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REGARDLESS of a woman's age, reproductive rights are fundamental. The state must have a very strong reason to restrict them in any way. Yet Hawaii lawmakers are considering legislation that would restrict the reproductive freedom of teen-age girls 14-17. Bill threatens rights
of young womenSB 809 SD 1 "Relating to Rights of Parents and Guardians" is a parental notification law that would require physicians to notify parents of a minor, under age 18, at least four days before performing an abortion. Physicians who don't comply would face fines and imprisonment.
Its proponents indicate that this law is about parents' rights, that its purpose is to foster family unity, reduce teen pregnancy and unnecessary abortion and protect minors against their own immaturity.
If only a law could produce these results! The truth is SB 809 SD 1 will NOT strengthen family relationships, encourage teens to talk to their parents or protect the health of minors. What it will do is to endanger teen girls, ages 14-17, instead of protecting them.
Pregnant minors, as a group, take much longer than others to make a decision regarding abortion and are more likely than older women to have later abortions.
The American Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (District VIII, Hawaii Section) oppose parental involvement laws because they increase the medical risk by delaying access to appropriate medical care.
The AMA is also concerned that "the need for privacy may be compelling (and) minors may be driven to desperate measures to maintain confidentiality," including running away from home and resorting to "back-alley" or "self-induced abortions."
Family Planning Centers of Hawaii have been providing reproductive health-care services since 1966 and first trimester abortion services since 1988. Our positions are well known:
Responsible parents should be involved when their young daughters face crisis pregnancies. In fact, even in the absence of laws mandating parental involvement, most young women do turn to their parents when they are considering an abortion.We try to make abortion less necessary by providing the education and confidential family planning services that reduce unintended pregnancy.
But studies show that one-third of these girls feel at risk of physical harm if they do tell their parents they are pregnant.
Some cannot involve their parents because of physical violence, emotional abuse or neglect; because their family is barely functioning; alcohol and drug abuse prevail; or because their pregnancies are the result of incest.
In the real world, daughters are thrown out of the house, beaten or both when parents learn about their pregnancies. Young girls run away from home, seek out illegal abortions or try to self-abort.
PARENTAL notification laws punish teens who are victims of tragic family situations and drive them underground, while having no affect on teens who are not in abusive family environments.
SB 809 SD 1 tells a young women this: If you make the choice to continue your pregnancy, we will leave you alone. However, if you decide otherwise, we're going to make it more difficult for you to exercise your fundamental right to choice.
Abortion should be made less necessary, not more difficult and dangerous. Let's continue to try giving teens the tools they need to avoid pregnancy and forsake misguided efforts to insert government into delicate family situations.
Barry Raff is executive director of
Family Planning Centers of Hawaii, a nonprofit organization
providing reproductive health-care and education
services in Hawaii since 1966.
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