Proposition 73
My take on CA Proposition 73 -
Yes
This is part of my ongoing series of posts on
each of the Propositions we'll be voting on. Here is the
original post, with my ground rules for evaluating propositions, my
scorecard and links to each of my
arguments.
Proposition 73 - Yes
Summary - This proposition would require doctors who perform abortions to notify the parents of the minor seeking the abortion at least 48 hours before the actual abortion occurs. This can be done via certified mail, or by hand delivering the written notification (in the case of a parent who attends the first appointment with their daughter). It does not apply to girls in active military duty, who are in a valid marriage, or who have been declared free of their parent or guardian (emancipated minors). Doctors breaking this law would be liable in a civil suit.
Commentary - This is a no brainer for me - definitely a yes. Let's first assume the pro-choice position - that abortion is simply some form of elective surgery (like a nose job). Is there any way a minor can have a surgery without parental consent, let alone notification? This law is simply asking that parents be notified in advance of the procedure. It is not requiring their consent, merely notification. This is an incredibly small thing to ask of doctors.
But let's be further clear of what this "procedure" involves - the taking of human life. I don't have the time or the space to go in depth into the topic of abortion, but the simple facts here are that a human life has begun and it is going to be snuffed out. I've seen my daughter on an ultrasound, I've felt her tiny little kicks; she is now, as much as she ever will be, my little girl. To think that someone would condone killing her in the name of women's rights is simply unfathomable to me. The only thing this law adds is notification of the parents prior to that happening. It is an incredibly small thing to ask.
But what about the case where a girl has abusive or dangerous parents? The first answer is that you don't make good policy by focusing on the rare, special cases - otherwise we'd remove every kid from their parents because some parents beat their children. However, you also can't afford to ignore special cases, which is why this law has a special provision for a minor who is either being coerced into an abortion or who is afraid of notifying her parents. She gets a free, swift, and confidential hearing with a judge - usually informally in his chambers. This law handles the big case well, while supporting the exceptions with care.
Most of the objections that parents shouldn't be notified have less to do with cases where parents are genuinely abusive, but rather where families would be reasonably disappointed and angry. But if a girl is not mature enough to even tell her parents (or have a doctor tell them for her) that she is getting an abortion, is she really ready to deal with the emotional turmoil of actually having an abortion (and be not fooled, there are serious emotional consequences to abortion)? All this law asks is that the parents be notified - it is an incredibly small thing to ask.
Over 30 states have laws on the books similar to this, and have witnessed not only their rates of abortion go down, but also their rates of pregnancy amongst minors. This should be a goal of everyone, and it is a goal that is attainable simply by not keeping parents in the dark. It is an incredibly small thing to ask.
If you want to churn your stomach, listen to these tapes of actual phone calls with abortion clinics, with young girls requesting secret abortions. I read this transcript, and couldn't take any more - a 13 year old girl tells the clinic that her 22 year old boyfriend will be paying for the secret abortion, and doesn't want to tell her parents because they don't like him. Think about this type of case - the pregnancy is proof of a statutory rape, and yet this evidence (and this is a child we are talking about) can be completely destroyed without the parents of the rape victim even knowing about it and without reporting it to any government agency. This is not about choice, and this is not about freedom, it is just plain sick, and simply notifying the parents is an incredibly small thing to ask.
Proposition 73 - Yes
Summary - This proposition would require doctors who perform abortions to notify the parents of the minor seeking the abortion at least 48 hours before the actual abortion occurs. This can be done via certified mail, or by hand delivering the written notification (in the case of a parent who attends the first appointment with their daughter). It does not apply to girls in active military duty, who are in a valid marriage, or who have been declared free of their parent or guardian (emancipated minors). Doctors breaking this law would be liable in a civil suit.
Commentary - This is a no brainer for me - definitely a yes. Let's first assume the pro-choice position - that abortion is simply some form of elective surgery (like a nose job). Is there any way a minor can have a surgery without parental consent, let alone notification? This law is simply asking that parents be notified in advance of the procedure. It is not requiring their consent, merely notification. This is an incredibly small thing to ask of doctors.
But let's be further clear of what this "procedure" involves - the taking of human life. I don't have the time or the space to go in depth into the topic of abortion, but the simple facts here are that a human life has begun and it is going to be snuffed out. I've seen my daughter on an ultrasound, I've felt her tiny little kicks; she is now, as much as she ever will be, my little girl. To think that someone would condone killing her in the name of women's rights is simply unfathomable to me. The only thing this law adds is notification of the parents prior to that happening. It is an incredibly small thing to ask.
But what about the case where a girl has abusive or dangerous parents? The first answer is that you don't make good policy by focusing on the rare, special cases - otherwise we'd remove every kid from their parents because some parents beat their children. However, you also can't afford to ignore special cases, which is why this law has a special provision for a minor who is either being coerced into an abortion or who is afraid of notifying her parents. She gets a free, swift, and confidential hearing with a judge - usually informally in his chambers. This law handles the big case well, while supporting the exceptions with care.
Most of the objections that parents shouldn't be notified have less to do with cases where parents are genuinely abusive, but rather where families would be reasonably disappointed and angry. But if a girl is not mature enough to even tell her parents (or have a doctor tell them for her) that she is getting an abortion, is she really ready to deal with the emotional turmoil of actually having an abortion (and be not fooled, there are serious emotional consequences to abortion)? All this law asks is that the parents be notified - it is an incredibly small thing to ask.
Over 30 states have laws on the books similar to this, and have witnessed not only their rates of abortion go down, but also their rates of pregnancy amongst minors. This should be a goal of everyone, and it is a goal that is attainable simply by not keeping parents in the dark. It is an incredibly small thing to ask.
If you want to churn your stomach, listen to these tapes of actual phone calls with abortion clinics, with young girls requesting secret abortions. I read this transcript, and couldn't take any more - a 13 year old girl tells the clinic that her 22 year old boyfriend will be paying for the secret abortion, and doesn't want to tell her parents because they don't like him. Think about this type of case - the pregnancy is proof of a statutory rape, and yet this evidence (and this is a child we are talking about) can be completely destroyed without the parents of the rape victim even knowing about it and without reporting it to any government agency. This is not about choice, and this is not about freedom, it is just plain sick, and simply notifying the parents is an incredibly small thing to ask.
Posted: Fri - October 28, 2005 at 09:04 PM | | | | | | |
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Published On: Nov 03, 2005 09:52 AM
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