Headline in the Tribune today: "Divisive Illinois abortion law goes into effect tomorrow"

Medical providers must notify a parent or guardian when girl 17 and younger seeks abortion. Parents do NOT need to give consent...just be notified.

 

Divisive?? I would think it's a very small minority that is against this. Curious on your thoughts, but please leave your 'Pro this /Anti that' opinions out of it. Parental consent comments only.

Most school systems now require parental consent for even giving a tylenol. Minors aren't allowed to enter into contracts without parental consent. But they can get an abortion without talking getting their parents permission? Crazy.

Headline in the Tribune today: "Divisive Illinois abortion law goes into effect tomorrow"

Medical providers must notify a parent or guardian when girl 17 and younger seeks abortion. Parents do NOT need to give consent...just be notified.

 

Divisive?? I would think it's a very small minority that is against this. Curious on your thoughts, but please leave your 'Pro this /Anti that' opinions out of it. Parental consent comments only.

Most school systems now require parental consent for even giving a tylenol. Minors aren't allowed to enter into contracts without parental consent. But they can get an abortion without talking getting their parents permission? Crazy.

2k5, you summed it up right there. Now, my question is this: can a teenager undergo any medical procedure without parental consent? I dont know the laws on this? I was under the impression an adult had to sign off on any medical procedure a minor has. If so, then it SHOULD be applied to abortions as well.

I don't really see what's so divisive about it, just seeing it on its face. I'm not a pro-lifer and I think this is an entirely reasonable law, unlike the crazy-assed laws they have in Oklahoma where they publish your address and s***.

2k5, you summed it up right there. Now, my question is this: can a teenager undergo any medical procedure without parental consent? I dont know the laws on this? I was under the impression an adult had to sign off on any medical procedure a minor has. If so, then it SHOULD be applied to abortions as well.

 

IMO, taking the abortion angle out of it completely, we as a society say that a 17 year old isn't mature enough to get a cell phone contract, or enter into other legal agreements. How can we as a society say that they are mature enough to decide, on their own, about a medical procedure. Could they go in and get plastic surgery without parental permission?

I don't really see what's so divisive about it, just seeing it on its face. I'm not a pro-lifer and I think this is an entirely reasonable law, unlike the crazy-assed laws they have in Oklahoma where they publish your address and s***.

 

Like I said, I see it in a big picture sense as how you view the maturity level of a 17 year old. As a society we have deemed them incapable of deciding things for themselves. The only reason this is different is because it is abortion, and not something less controversial.

IMO, taking the abortion angle out of it completely, we as a society say that a 17 year old isn't mature enough to get a cell phone contract, or enter into other legal agreements. How can we as a society say that they are mature enough to decide, on their own, about a medical procedure. Could they go in and get plastic surgery without parental permission?

 

Spot on.

 

17 year olds are not equipped to make such decisions on their own, and will often make knee jerk decisions based on what they think may be a world ending event, such as this. I remember being 17, and I remember thinking the smallest things in my life were the biggest decisions to be made, looking back, I realize how small they actually were and would have been more open to an adults opinion if I could do it again.

IMO, taking the abortion angle out of it completely, we as a society say that a 17 year old isn't mature enough to get a cell phone contract, or enter into other legal agreements. How can we as a society say that they are mature enough to decide, on their own, about a medical procedure. Could they go in and get plastic surgery without parental permission?

^^^^^^^^^

Well I also posted this on my FB page...and got my first dissenter: Here ya go...

 

I fall in the against column. I see nothing wrong with trying to encourage kids to tell their parents, but to make a blanket law that they HAVE to tell the parents is bad. There are so many different situations where that's bad. The abusive parent, the super religious parent, the rapist parent. And what parent is required? Step? Foster? Dcfs if they are a ward? Education (not abstinence only) education education is the key. And for parents, communication with your child is key. Start early, use the correct terminology, and talk about sex even if you don't think they are listening to you.

 

 

 

 

Spot on.

 

17 year olds are not equipped to make such decisions on their own, and will often make knee jerk decisions based on what they think may be a world ending event, such as this. I remember being 17, and I remember thinking the smallest things in my life were the biggest decisions to be made, looking back, I realize how small they actually were and would have been more open to an adults opinion if I could do it again.

Not to mention a 14, 15, or 16 yr old....

In two of the three situations he mentioned there are other legal factors involved, that need to be addressed. The religion angle is a big copout, because it is present in any other thing that a teenager would be deciding at that point. It doesn't make it any more or less relevant.

Well I also posted this on my FB page...and got my first dissenter: Here ya go...

 

I fall in the against column. I see nothing wrong with trying to encourage kids to tell their parents, but to make a blanket law that they HAVE to tell the parents is bad. There are so many different situations where that's bad. The abusive parent, the super religious parent, the rapist parent. And what parent is required? Step? Foster? Dcfs if they are a ward? Education (not abstinence only) education education is the key. And for parents, communication with your child is key. Start early, use the correct terminology, and talk about sex even if you don't think they are listening to you.

 

You will probably see many more of these.

 

And I keep hearing this "education" crap spewed at me when it comes to sex and teens, and it's garbage. Teaching them what's what is one thing, especially when it comes to sex, but these are just kids, and kids don't really think about the consequences of their future. Teens and younger adults tend to "live in the now" and make rash decisions because of it...there is a difference in knowing something and understanding something.

 

People of that age may know everything, but they sure as hell don't understand it yet.

Well I also posted this on my FB page...and got my first dissenter: Here ya go...

 

I fall in the against column. I see nothing wrong with trying to encourage kids to tell their parents, but to make a blanket law that they HAVE to tell the parents is bad. There are so many different situations where that's bad. The abusive parent, the super religious parent, the rapist parent. And what parent is required? Step? Foster? Dcfs if they are a ward? Education (not abstinence only) education education is the key. And for parents, communication with your child is key. Start early, use the correct terminology, and talk about sex even if you don't think they are listening to you.

In all of those situations you really have far bigger problems that this law would be irrelevant to.

I do know for a fact that the schools, pharmacies, clinics, and anywhere else giving them, are requiring parental consent for the H1n1 shot in Indiana.

I do know for a fact that the schools, pharmacies, clinics, and anywhere else giving them, are requiring parental consent for the H1n1 shot in Indiana.

 

As they should.

 

Have you ever read what is in flu shots/vaccinations?! The purified virus aside, the liquids that accompany these shots are incredibly dangerous. Kids could unknowingly be allergic to any number of these items, and not know it, and then what?

 

Edit:

 

Thimerosal and Formaldehyde are both key agents in flu vaccinations...

 

Thimerosal is a preservative, however, it is known to be about 49% base mercury. I'm sure parents want their kids unknowingly making such decisions.

Edited November 2, 200916 yr by Y2HH

As long as the age of consent allows you to have consensual sex because you've reached a minimum age, you should be able to make choices on your own about medical treatments that result from sexual contact.

As they should.

 

Have you ever read what is in flu shots/vaccinations?! The purified virus aside, the liquids that accompany these shots are incredibly dangerous. Kids could unknowingly be allergic to any number of these items, and not know it, and then what?

 

Going along that same vein of thought, it isn't like an abortion is a 100% safe procedure either. There are some pretty major risks, including sterility, cancer, and death. I know the argument is that it doesn't happen very often, but how often does a worst case scenario happen out of the flu shot?

As long as the age of consent allows you to have consensual sex because you've reached a minimum age, you should be able to make choices on your own about medical treatments that result from sexual contact.

What he said.

Going along that same vein of thought, it isn't like an abortion is a 100% safe procedure either. There are some pretty major risks, including sterility, cancer, and death. I know the argument is that it doesn't happen very often, but how often does a worst case scenario happen out of the flu shot?

 

Exactly.

 

The main reason I have an issue with it is because a 17 year old (or younger) would be pressed to make a decision such as this based on fear moreso than based on an educated choice.

 

Such as fear their parents "will kill them if they found out they were pregnant", etc, when in reality they're parents may be upset/disappointed, but they surely wouldn't "kill them".

Exactly.

 

The main reason I have an issue with it is because a 17 year old (or younger) would be pressed to make a decision such as this based on fear moreso than based on an educated choice.

 

Such as fear their parents "will kill them if they found out they were pregnant", etc, when in reality they're parents may be upset/disappointed, but they surely wouldn't "kill them".

 

As a parent I don't mind not getting notified.

As a parent I don't mind not getting notified.

 

Fair enough.

any law regarding abortion will be divisive.

 

But I'm fine with this one - as others have said, a 17 year old needs consent for all sorts of things far less risky, so why would this be OK?

 

Age of consent in Illinois is 16, correct? I think the "if you can legally have sex, then do what you want" is a legit argument. I'll leave the argument about what age is demend "mature" enough to make decisions for another time.

 

Strictly looking at the law, if the law requires you to be 18 (or 17, or 16... what ever the age is) before you can enter a legal contract and can make your own decisions with regards to medical procedures, then the "right" to have an abortion.. aka a major medical procedure... is not yours until that age. Simple as that.

I thought the age of consent in IL is 17. I could be wrong.

I thought the age of consent in IL is 17. I could be wrong.

 

I believe it's 17, but 16 with parental consent. Whereas 15 is illegal with or without parental consent.