Secret Abortions

Philosophy Forums Society, Government, and Economics
1

Secret Abortions

  • …should not be allowed.
  • …should remain secret.
  • …is not a topic I can offer insight to.
  • …Thirst should have been a victim of one of these.
0 voters

Hello F(r)iends,

I am pro-choice even though I think abortion is murder; however, I cannot accept that a child (as defined by the local law) can be allowed to hide an abortion from her parents. If a child walks into a hospital for any reason but an abortion, that child’s parents are notified. Why wouldn’t we notify the parents for something of this importance?

I think that a child is the responsibility of the parents and as such, barring extrenuating circumstances, the parents must shoulder the responsibility of deciding whether or not the child should have an abortion. With the condition that any parents deciding their child will not have an abortion will be responsible for that newborn just as if it were their own child (as opposed to grandchild).

Essentially, I think that secret abortions should not be condoned, accepted, and the government should not rob parents of their rights to raise/protect their children.

What do you think is best for the child?
Should a child be able to make such a crucial decision?
What is the best decision for society?
Any thoughts?

-Thirst

2

Two points:

  1. I think that if a child is unwilling to discuss her pregnancy with her parents, and the health and social workers she will encounter before any treatment is given are unable to convince her to tell her parents, then the parents have already lost the right to raise/protect their child.

  2. Without the choice of confidential terminations within the professional medical services, children determined to have an abortion without informing their parents will put themselves at greater risk.

3

The provision for abortions without parental knowledge/permission exists because:

Some children are at risk of physical harm from their parents if they are found to be pregnant. It is easier to hide an abortion than a bulging belly/a baby.

Girls who cannot tell their parents may put themselves at risk if they cannot get an abortion confidentially.

It is not the parents right to decide that their child must have a child as this responsibility necessarily extends beyond childhood (18 years).

Hopefully parents would talk to their daughters about what they would expect in the event of pregnancy.