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Testimony
to House Healthcare
Council In 2005, FCC supported passage of the parental notification law requiring physicians to notify a parent or guardian when a minor is seeking an abortion. We believe parents have a right and responsibility to be involved in the lives of their children and want to be involved in decisions that could result in physical complications and/or long-term psychological effects. In a 2006 federally funded study published in the Journal of Youth and Adolescents by Dr. Priscilla Coleman, a research psychologist at Bowling Green State University, one of the findings was that adolescent girls who have an abortion are 5 times more likely to seek help for psychological and emotional problems than those who keep their baby In the first 18 months the law has been in effect, 737 minors have filed for judicial bypass, with 690 granted. In an article published in the Palm Beach Post in October 2006, judges lamented that the girls coming for bypasses are not those people assume – minors who might be abused by their parents. The judges report it is the smart, attractive teens who are afraid to disappoint their parents. Juvenile Court Judge Ronald Alvarez calls the hearings soul wrenching and says they are without a doubt the most upsetting thing he does. The judges interviewed felt uncomfortable making a decision with only hearing from one side and no clear guidelines defining maturity. I have provided a copy of the article to the council. We support the proposed changes to the parental notice law that will require a guardian ad litem to be assigned to the minor and provides a listing of factors to be considered when determining whether a minor is sufficiently mature to make this decision. We believe parents want the best for their children and would want the opportunity to help their child make the decision that is in their best interest rather than a court being involved in a decision the minor may come to regret as an adult.
Sheila S. Hopkins,
Associate Director for Social Concerns/Respect Life |