Posted on 05/03/2005 7:33:22 AM PDT by 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.
Tell that to all the women harmed by their abortions.
I predict that in a few years she will sue the state for not looking out for her interests and preventing the abortion. Her decision to do so (I predict) will come from depression over the death of her first child and/or simple greed.
She's 13 years old, she's been in DCF care for nearly four years and she STILL gets pregnant? From what? Eating too much broccoli?
My God, my God, what a mess. This kid's life is over. And she gets to start the teenage years with a nice abortion encouraged by the state. How charming.
"....he ruled Monday that the teen would not be physically or emotionally harmed by the abortion."
sure. and the unborn baby won't be either.
So how old is the father???
Why do so many people think abortion is the answer to this girls problem? I pray this girl does not murder her baby. But since we are talking Florida here, I have a feeling the child is as good as dead.
Unbelievable. Sick. Horrid. Tragic.
What a shame that this "Child" has to go through this. They are only young once.
Her life was probably a mess to begin with. I am sure this will not be the last abortion she has. Alot of girls who like this use abortion almost as a method of birth control.
And Jesus wept.
The teenager's life is not over. Her childhood is. Her childhood may have been over years ago. This is very, very sad.
That's what I would like to know.
She ran away and got pregnant while she was missing.
Why are we punishing the innocent baby for the mess caused by others?
So the Supreme Court rules that someone who is 17 years and 364 days old isn't old enough to be held accountable for murdering someone else...
...but a thirteen-year-old is old enough to decide to have an innocent baby killed.
It's like my tagline says.
Score another success for the ACLU.
Abortion is not the answer to her problem. But apparently this girl does not want to go thru the pregnancy and does not have parents or counseling to stop her. I am afraid this may not be the last abortion she has. This will be a pattern with her of getting pregnant.
Which DYS employee is the father? How about some DNA samples?
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