Teen Abortion Essay Research Paper Adolescent abortion

Teen Abortion Essay, Research Paper Adolescent abortion by Yvette R. Harris; Society August 1997 For teenagers facing abortion, it is a psychological, social, and philosophical dilemma that must be encountered. After the Roe v Wade case in which the court decided that a woman should have the right to choose, limited abortion rights were granted to minors. As a result, numerous states enacted various forms of parental notification and consent laws. In most states, the law requires that parents of teenagers provide written approval of the minor’s decision to terminate her pregnancy, or that they be notified by a physician. An on going debate has continued regarding the notification of parents on abortion. Many psychologists believe that parental notification can have a

long-lasting impact on the teenager’s physical and psychological well being, decision making capability, and family relationships. Opponents believe that such notification laws are unnecessary because a significant portion of teenagers confide in their parents about pregnancy and would seek their advice on pregnancy options and alternatives. Therefore, parents are already involved in providing emotional and psychological support and assisting her in the decision making process. Also, a small percentage of teens are living in abusive and unstable situations at home and the laws would cause them to delay seeking termination of their pregnancy because of the fear of the parental reaction. On the other side, those who believe that parents should be notified argue that if parents

are notified, they will be there to provide support in dealing with the psychological impact of abortion. They also argue that teenagers are not experienced at making decisions for themselves and therefore will not make the decision that is best for themselves and for their family. Information must be obtained on the psychological effects of abortion on teenage mothers before any federal law goes into existence on teen abortions. Committee approves bill requiring girls to notify parents before an abortion by Mark Silva; Tribune News Service April 1999 Statistics show that in the United States abortion is committed by many teenage mothers. A bill was passed requiring a teenage girl to notify her parents before having an abortion. The problem the bill faces is that there is a

Privacy Amendment in the Constitution that broadly protects women’s rights to choose abortion. Sponsors of the bill argue the fact that in any other surgical procedure, other than an emergency, doctors are required to notify the parents before they do surgery. However, in many economically and education deprived sections of the US, many teenagers are living in potentially violent families- or a father who might even be responsible for his daughter’s pregnancy. In a case like that, the father may be so enraged about a daughter’s decision to have an abortion he may physically and sexually assault the teenager and thus psychologically damaging the teen for life. For some teens, abortion as a means of coping can become a stressor-Anne Speckhard By many teens, abortion is used

as a coping mechanism for adolescents who are not ready for parenthood. However, abortion for some teens can be the very thing that causes stress. Over 20 percent of teens who have an abortion have posttraumatic responses, including depression. This is because a teen who becomes pregnant will form a strong attachment to the fetus. This causes many problems because it causes a grief reaction that is difficult to overcome. Teenagers who were traumatized by their abortion experience often say they felt forced to have an abortion and that the experience was tremendously filled with emotion. The posttraumatic response to an abortion is not dissimilar to any other traumatic event like a car accident or the witness of a death. The teenager will have flashbacks of feelings of attachment