This section of the guide looks at teenage abortion. The decision to have an abortion or not is a difficult one but even more so if you are a teenager. In fact, it can be very scary! This section is also useful for anyone who is the parent of a teenager who is considering an abortion or who works with teenagers in a daily setting.
D ealing with an unplanned and unwanted pregnancy is a difficult experience for anyone. For instance, 21 states require parental consent before a teenager can have an abortion; 13 mandate that at least one parent be notified; and five states mandate both consent and notification. States that require parental notification and consent for a teenager to have a child? Surely if we believe young people are mature enough to parent or responsible enough to carry a baby to term, and thoughtful enough to make the decision to put a baby up for adoption without parental or judicial intervention though there are five states that require parental involvement if a minor puts a child up for adoption , they should also have to right to decide whether or not to get a minute medical procedure. But lawmakers insist on enacting more and more roadblocks in between a young woman and her ability to choose what the rest of her life will look like. In Texas, for example, new rules governing judicial bypasses for abortion — which allow young people to get permission for an abortion from a judge rather than a parent — went into effect on January 1.
Young Women’s Reproductive Rights/Abortion in Pennsylvania
PIP: The issue of abortion, except when it is rendered moot because the fetus endangers the life of the mother, is not really a medical issue. The physician's role is to help patients achieve and maintain their maximum potential for physical, mental, and social well-being. To accomplish this, the physician must acquire a constantly evolving database of scientific knowledge, must evaluate this information in a critical and ethical manner, and must be prepared to apply what is learned.
Finding out you are pregnant when you least expect it can be daunting for most women but when you are a teenager it can be even more frightening. You may feel ashamed or embarrassed or perhaps even scared to tell your parents. You might not know what to expect or how people will react. Perhaps your boyfriend is not interested in talking about it and you may feel very alone.