Is it really a surprise that parents in New Zealand want to know when their underage daughters get abortions? I mean, kids can't go on field trips without parental consent, they can't borrow money, they can't sign contracts, they can't pose nude, they can't buy cigarettes or drink, they can't join the army, they can't... and so forth. But abortions? No problem! Why in the world should a parent be involved in something so trivial?
An opinion poll in New Zealand has found substantial support for parents' right to know if their underage daughter wants to have an abortion. The poll sends a strong signal to a liberal government that critics accuse of pursuing a politically-correct agenda.A proposed piece of legislation called the Care of Children Bill entrenches an existing situation that allows girls of any age to have an abortion without their parents' knowledge or consent.
Opposition politicians are pressing for the provision to be changed, pointing out that parents are required to give their consent for their children to undergo any non-urgent medical procedure - apart from an abortion.
Many parents are horrified at the notion of school staff whisking their under-16 year old daughters off for an abortion during school hours, leaving parents out of the loop in what is likely to be the most traumatic decision their child has ever made.
No, seriously? Those parents are just prudes.
The pro-life Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child points out that schools are obliged to inform parents if even mild medications are given to children while away from home, yet abortions are exempt from this policy.
Now if only abortions could cure headaches....
So what do pro-abortion folks think of a proposal to require parental notification (not even parental premission!)?
Top medical bodies including the New Zealand Medical Association (NZMA) are against her proposal, saying it could prompt girls to have illegal or "back street" abortions, putting themselves at risk of harm."This proposal is a backward step and sends a dangerous message to young girls, who may be confused, desperate and vulnerable," said NZMA chairwoman Dr Tricia Briscoe.
Hm... if a young girl is feeling "confused, desperate and vulnerable" isn't that exactly when it's most necessary for her parents to be involved? No, what nonsense! That's when the government should step in and encourage the girl to "make her own decisions" without being burdened by a couple of old folks who just happen to share some genes with her.
Nice post, Michael. It's amazing how ridiculous all these "smart" government people are when you slow down and actually look at the crap they're shoveling.
The really scary part of this story is the defense used by the pro-abortion crowd, which basically amounts to: Don't be responsible for your children; it might push them into lying and being sneaky. I guess we shouldn't have laws against murder either. It might make murderers murder even more.
I'm saddened by how depraved this world is growing.
"This proposal is a backward step and sends a dangerous message to young girls, who may be confused, desperate and vulnerable"
Yeah, we wouldn't want to send a message to the girls that their parents might like, you know, care about them or anything.
What other message could they possibly think this is going to send to girls???
It just completely boggles my mind how people can think it's appropiate for children to be getting abortions without their parent's knowledge. What if there is some sort of complication? The parents wouldn't even know to be looking out for something, let alone what to tell the doctor at the emergency room.
And the fact that we've just skipped over "approval" to "knowledge" is just so ridiculous. Parents can call the school to get them out of any sort of school activity that they think doesn't sit well with their family's morals, but it's just fine and dandy to tell a 15 yr old girl that getting an abortion is a-ok and she shouldn't let her parents tell her any different.
The entire reason children have parents is so that they have a way to learn about more mature ways of making decisions. Most kids don't think decisions through very well, and most of them are basing their logic on how to minimize the short term negative consequences. It's just making the problem worse to have the school nurse tell some kid who is terrified that her life is over, "yeah, just get an abortion, there's no long term consequences. Don't let anyone tell you what to do with your body."
Of course the whole intent of the pro-choice crowd seems to be to deny that there are any long term consequences to abortion, be they medical, emotional, or other. Plus they all are very worried about anyone telling them what to do. Hmmm...they sound just like teenagers.
We have an almost identical situation with regard to absurd abortion policy in Illinois. Only difference is there is an age limit. Twelve. Any girl 12 or more can get an abortion without parental notification. They'll even assist the girl in filing for public medical assistance to avoid using the parents' insurance.
There are of course laws here requiring parental notification - Planned Parenthood has them tied up and shelved in courts though.
Sickening.
Deb: Could it be because PP makes money from abortions?