teenage pregnancies,

[cia260895]

reading an article in yesterdays paper the rate of teenage pregnancies has risen,

as a parent can you force yr child into an abortion or do they have they (child) have the final word?

[Newmanseye]

 

[madasahatstand]

The decision would be made around the legal age of capacity. I think it comes under the childrens act? If the child has an understanding of the consequences of a decision and is deemed to be mature enough to make the decision then thats usually what happens. Children who dont have this capacity would have parents and guardians make the decision.

Its a challenging question.

[Ginger]

Sigh, I've only just returned home but the way this thread is going to go means that I'm off out for the afternoon!

[Claw75]

I presume it would depend on the circumstances, and the maturity of the child.  If she's deemed to have the capacity to make a considered decision, I would say that the decision should rest with her.

The minute I became sexually active, my mum gave me a talk and got me on the pill - most sensible way forward all round I'd say. 

[cia260895]

So who decides if the child is mature enough?
surely by breaking the law in the 1st place they are already showing immaturity?

[madasahatstand]

Sigh, I've only just returned home but the way this thread is going to go means that I'm off out for the afternoon!

Whats wrong with the way its going? Just been facts so far unless you deleted something?

[Ginger]

Sigh, I've only just returned home but the way this thread is going to go means that I'm off out for the afternoon!

Whats wrong with the way its going? Just been facts so far unless you deleted something?

I said the way it's going to go, NOT the way it was going.

[madasahatstand]

So who decides if the child is mature enough?
surely by breaking the law in the 1st place they are already showing immaturity?

The doctor doing the procedure makes the decision based on an assessment of the child. Its not just kids who demonstrate immaturity, we all do it at times..

[madasahatstand]

Sigh, I've only just returned home but the way this thread is going to go means that I'm off out for the afternoon!

Whats wrong with the way its going? Just been facts so far unless you deleted something?

I said the way it's going to go, NOT the way it was going.

Sigh, I've only just returned home but the way this thread is going to go means that I'm off out for the afternoon!

Whats wrong with the way its going? Just been facts so far unless you deleted something?

I said the way it's going to go, NOT the way it was going.

thats me told off...............again

[Claw75]

So who decides if the child is mature enough?
surely by breaking the law in the 1st place they are already showing immaturity?

A doctor I would imagine.  I disagree with your second point.  I had sex in the confines of a loving relationship with my boyfriend before we reached the age of 16 - we were both mature enough to have that kind of relationship.  We used contraception, but had it failed, I can't see that it should have been anyone's decision but my own whether to proceed with the pregnancy.  Forcing a teenager to have an abortion against their will would be the first step to destroying the child/parent relationship forever imho.

the law is there to protect children, but the age is pretty much arbitrary.  One 16 year old is very different from the next.  Until very recently it was illegal for heterosexual couples to have anal sex.  Was anyone taking part in that act automatically immature because they were breaking the law?

[cia260895]

Dont get me wrong but i'd never force a child into that decision.

 I was just asking who makes the decision in the eyes of the law.

[stallyon]

i too was in a loving relationship before i was 16 with a girl of the same age. she was put on the pill by her mum (her dad didnt know at all). the pill failed, she fell pregnant and was forced by her mum to get rid which actually split us up. i think if they are old enough to know what they are doing then they are old enough to decide but having been there i know why these laws exist and why parents are sometimes forced to make decisions that are for the right reasons. i now have a 10 year old girl (with a different woman) and if she ever fell pregnant then i would do the same as my ex's mum.

[cia260895]

But you cant actually force a child to terminate the unborn child.

[stallyon]

that would depend on how you put it to them...if she was totally adamant with her decision then i would abide by that