A Florida court ruling that a 16-year-old is not “mature enough” to have an abortion has sparked outrage. “This is a dangerous and horrific example of Florida’s war on women,” Democratic Rep. Lois Frankel tweeted Tuesday. “If a young girl is too immature to decide to have an abortion, how can she carry a baby?”
Rep. Pramila Jayapal called the decision of an appeals court in Florida “disgusting”. She was “angry” that a teenager was forced to give birth.
Teen feels ‘not ready to have a baby’
On Monday, an appeals court denied a 16-year-old the right to an abortion, upholding a first-instance ruling. The 10-week pregnant teen told the court she was “not ready to have a baby”. She still goes to school, has no job and the father of the child cannot help her.
However, the court of first instance ruled that the young person had not “prove clearly and convincingly that she was mature enough to decide whether to terminate her pregnancy”. The Court of Appeal upheld this decision.
Parental consent required
In Florida, minors need parental consent to have an abortion. In this case, however, the young person has no parents. She lives with a relative and has a state-appointed guardian. The girl therefore applied to the court for permission to have an abortion.
Abortion rights are one of the most controversial socio-political issues in the United States. The country’s Supreme Court in June overturned a nearly 50-year-old landmark decision that enshrined a nationwide right to abortion. As a result, numerous conservatively governed states have begun to drastically restrict access to abortions.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
