13 year old having an abortion

**burton2019** · May 3rd, 2005, 11:54 AM

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - A judge has ruled that a 13-year-old girl at the center of an abortion fight with the state may terminate her pregnancy.

Juvenile Judge Ronald Alvarez on Monday ruled that the teen, who has been in state custody for four years, would not be physically or emotionally harmed by the procedure. Last week, Alvarez blocked the girl's abortion until a psychological evaluation was completed.

"He ruled that she is competent, that she has made a decision and that she has a right to act on that decision,"? said Howard Simon, executive director of the Florida American Civil Liberties Union, which represented the girl.

The state Department of Children & Families had argued that the girl, known only in court papers as L.G., was too young and immature to decide for herself to have an abortion. The agency said state law prohibited the agency from consenting to the procedure.

Children and families officials declined to comment Monday on whether they planned to appeal Alvarez's decision. "Since this is still in litigation, I can't speak to what's going on in court,"? agency spokeswoman Marilyn Munoz told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Attorneys for the girl said the abortion was scheduled for Monday, but it was unclear whether the girl underwent the procedure.

The girl told the judge last week as part of the psychological evaluation process that she wanted an abortion, citing her age and no way to support a baby. The girl's attorneys argue that Florida law protects a minor's right to choose an abortion.

A measure is moving through the state Legislature to require notification of parents or guardians when girls seek abortion. In 2003, the Florida Supreme Court struck down a 1999 law requiring parents to be notified if their minor daughters seek an abortion.

**MikMo** · May 3rd, 2005, 12:00 PM

If it was up to me, every woman who ever decided to have an abortion would spend an eternity burning in a lake of fire. It is a borderline topic because each of us as individual beings has the right to do with his or her bodies as they will.

**gcdevil22** · May 3rd, 2005, 12:42 PM

myself, i would never suggest an abortion...but the way i see it i cannot tell another woman what to do with her body, ultimately it is her decision because this will be happening to her and her body and not anyone else's

**imported_elp6n** · May 3rd, 2005, 01:47 PM

I do disagree with abortion - I believe it's the killing of an individual life.

There are a few grey areas that make even me wonder though. What if, say, a 9 year old (post-pubescent) girl is raped and becomes pregnant (this has happened before)? Could a girl that age go through two traumas and not be scarred for life?

On another note, the judge originally blocked the abortion because she "was too young and immature to decide for herself to have an abortion." So a pregnancy is ok for her but abortion isn't?

**burton2019** · May 3rd, 2005, 01:59 PM

This is a very difficult topic to discuss because of all the controversy surrounding it. As a man, it is hard to sit here and really comment on it. But my opinion on the subject is that I believe it is wrong. But Elp6n brought up a great point. What if a woman or young girl was raped and ended up pregnant. Why would they want to carry the child of their rapist? No woman should have to do that if tha were to happen to them. Like I said this is a very touchy subject. I see no difference in killing an unborn child than killing an infant or baby after birth. But this is just my opinion. Not meaning to step on any toes or disrespect anyone.

**gcdevil22** · May 3rd, 2005, 02:10 PM

another reason may be if the baby will be born with a serious birth defect and will die in its early stages anyway...or if the mother has complications early on and if she has it it will seriously harm the mother

i do, however, believe that after a certain point in the pregnancy an abortion should be out of the question...the hard question for me is, at what point is it not ok to abort?

**imported_VTgal** · May 3rd, 2005, 02:58 PM

I don't believe abortion should be a means of birth control. However, I don't think it should be outright illegal. It's just not very black and white to me.

I know some girls that have had 2 abortions each. First of all, the abortion itself is very hard on a woman's body...and Secondly, why are they getting pregnant and saying, "ah, I'm not ready (AGAIN) - abortion time!"

Like gcdevil said, I think once the pregnancy gets to a certain point, abortion should be out of the question.

**pvfan** · May 3rd, 2005, 06:52 PM

I agree it shouldn't be used as birth control but I dont really see how a 13 year old girl can care for a child? I know all of you are going to say adoption well its not that easy many of these kids end up in bad situations. What I do have a problem with is a government that opposes abortion yet doesn't really do much to help the lower class and imo that is what we are seeing today in this country.

**imported_elp6n** · May 3rd, 2005, 06:54 PM

Many of these aborted babies could have gone to loving adoptive parents...people unable to have children of their own.
Very sad.
Also very sad that people (adults even) DO use it as a form of birth control.

**1inStripes** · May 3rd, 2005, 07:15 PM

I completely agree elp6n. Apparently if this girl is in state custody she must be in foster care or something as well. It could have been very simple for the baby to be placed up for adoption. A much better choice than abortion.

I am against abortion, but in a case for mother endangerment, I can see its use. I feel like abortion should be completely regulated by legitmate family doctors, or OBGYNs.