Judge Okays Abortion For Girl, 13

St. Petersburg Times ^ | 5/3/05 | Associated Press

[areafiftyone]

WEST PALM BEACH - A 13-year-old at the center of an abortion fight with the state was given permission Monday to terminate her pregnancy, but it was unclear whether she immediately underwent the procedure.

Attorneys for the girl, known only as L.G. in court papers, said the abortion was scheduled for later Monday. However, the state Department of Children and Families appealed the decision, according to Maxine Williams, one of the teen's attorneys.

"Since this is still in litigation, I can't speak to what's going on in court," DCF spokeswoman Marilyn Munoz said.

Palm Beach Juvenile Judge Ronald Alvarez issued an order last week temporarily stopping the teen, who lives in a state shelter, from having the abortion. DCF argued she was too young and immature to decide for herself and state law prohibited the agency from consenting to an abortion.

Alvarez held up the abortion until a psychological evaluation was completed, but he ruled Monday that the teen would not be physically or emotionally harmed by the abortion.

"Legally speaking, it's not a difficult decision to make," Alvarez was quoted as saying by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. "Morally speaking, it's a very difficult decision for this court to make. ... But I'm not here to make the moral decision. I'm here to make the legal decisions."

"He ruled that she is competent, that she has made a decision and that she has a right to act on that decision," said Howard Simon, executive director of the Florida branch of the American Civil Liberties Union, which helped represent the girl. The judge also declared "her right to act on that decision is also in her best interest," Simon said.

The teen, who was more than 14 weeks pregnant, has been in DCF care for at least four years.

Her attorneys say Florida law protects a minor's right to choose an abortion.

Florida's high court cited state privacy rights in 1989 when it tossed out a law that would have required parental consent for a minor's abortion.

[sawdust]

"Gov. Jeb Bush said Tuesday that the state will not appeal further."

Jeb's smart enough to know that going to the mattress on this case would be as popular with most of the Florida electorate as a bad case of crabgrass. Last thing he wants is to turn this sad case into Schiavo II.

[beansox]

Who is paying for this abortion? the tax payers?

[CSM]

I am not against abortion from a church perspective. My objection is purely factual. There is no question that a "fetus" is a human being and abortion is murder. Further a baby (in the womb) is the most innocent human being in existence. Much like a murderer is the most evil human being in existence. To equate the killing of these two entities is not possible factually.

[NJ_gent]

"She could be carrying the child that cures cancer for all we know."

The rest of your post aside, this is a rather silly argument. It's equally likely that she's carrying the child that developes a bioweapon that wipes out 1/3 of the American population.

[pa mom]

The grey here is that both alternatives stink. Abortion is bad, and so is a child having a child. Especially since she has a stated desire to keep it if she gives birth.

Either way the baby loses. Yell and scream all you want about life, that's fine, but just acknowledge that the alternative is no bed of roses.

[NJ_gent]

"I see absolutely no circumstances that would justify killing an innocent human child. Choosing Life is always the right choice."

Hospital rules to unplug baby girl

The law making this legal was signed by then governor George W. Bush in 1999. A 6-month old boy died after his respirator was unplugged by the hospital under the same law.

[NJ_gent]

"Meanwhile, Randall Terry's friends shoot doctors and bomb abortion clinics and even the Olympics. It's about consistency. Either you oppose murder, or you don't. That's the "culture of life". Once you allow wiggle room, you've compromised yourself."

"They'll do anything they can to save a fetus, but if it grows up to be a doctor they just might have to kill it?" - George Carlin

[NJ_gent]

"So all abortions are bad kids?"

This is a strawman argument. The person to whom you're responding never stated this to be the case, nor was it implied. Personally, I'd ask what evidence was used to come up with those statistics, then examine and, if necessary, attack the methology of the study or studies themselves.

[LowOiL]

Why do you think there are people who want to adopt go to other countries to do so, it is just somewhat easier than it is in this country.

There is such a demand for such babies (due to abortion) that to fill the demand people import babies. China seems to be a hot spot now to adopt.

This little innocent life could be someone very loved baby, something that others call a "mistake" would be a "blessing" in another person's eyes.

[monday]

"We should just end the life of the 13 year old."

I hope you are being sarcastic but it is a stupid thing to say either way.

[Evolution]

How many have been freed from death row by DNA testing?

Just goes to show the system WORKS!

Please name me an example on an innocent person being executed in the US since the reinstatement of the DP in 1976?

Anti-DP crowd would have jumped all over it along time ago if it existed.

Life without parole will have the same result, but at less cost (lawyers and appeals are expensive)

Yes DP is expensive because of 10 years of appeals on average, but those anti-DP statistics are biased.

The fact is lifers also appeals and appeals forever so add that to the burden, also add the fact that we have to keep them alive when they are very sick and ill, which means they get FREE HEALTHCARE. So if a child raping muderer is on a kidney transplant list ahead of you he will get it, while you can DIE!

Not only that but many states have changed their laws as their prisons become more overcrowded are releasing lifers, so their is no gurantee when someone is sentenced to life it means LIFE!

As for just or unjust wars--the Pope called the Iraq war unjust; you'll have to take it up with him in heaven......or hell

I respect Catholic Americans, and know many Catholic Americans disagree with the Pope on many issues. Dont mean to shoot a low blow, but perhaps the Pope better take up the his own problems in the Vatican first (liberation theology,scandals of all sorts, defending tyranical regimes) before condemning America, the only thing currently stopping the Islamic World from overunning and sacking the VATICAN.

[monday]

"This little innocent life could be someone very loved baby, something that others call a "mistake" would be a "blessing" in another person's eyes."

I agree. If she is capable of having the child she should IMO. However am I the only one to wonder if she is physically capable of carrying a child to term? Thirteen is very young. Some thirteen year olds might, with some difficulty, while for others it could be dangerous.

I guess since no one else has even brought it up she must be very mature for her age.

[NJ_gent]

"There is such a demand for such babies (due to abortion) that to fill the demand people import babies."

People don't go to other countries to adopt because the domestic orphanages are empty; they do so to avoid the beaucratic red tape which is set up to ensure that child molestors and unfit/incompetent people do not get their hands on children.

That and the fact that nobody (generally speaking) wants to adopt crack babies or children with a history of abuse or emotional problems.

Abortion hasn't dried out this country's supply of children in need of a home, forcing prospective adopters to look elsewhere; cheaper travel and better access to information has allowed people to bypass hassle and wait times and cherry-pick the kid they want.

[monday]

"Abortion hasn't dried out this country's supply of children in need of a home, forcing prospective adopters to look elsewhere;"

There certainly would be more babies to adopt if not for abortion. It isn't even debatable. The problems you state certainly exist but that doesn't mean there wouldn't be more babies to adopt, and very likely less red tape, if not for abortion.