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Abortion Okayed for 13 year Old in Florida
www.foxnews.com ^ | May 3, 2005 | Fox News

Posted on 05/03/2005 9:50:07 AM PDT by IMissPresidentReagan

A judge has ruled that a 13-year-old girl at the center of an abortion fight with the state may terminate her pregnancy.

Juvenile Judge Ronald Alvarez (search) on Monday ruled that the teen, who has been in state custody for four years, would not be physically or emotionally harmed by the procedure. Last week, Alvarez blocked the girl's abortion until a psychological evaluation was completed.

"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 American Civil Liberties Union (search), which represented the girl.

The state Department of Children & Families had argued that the girl, known only in court papers as L.G., (search) was too young and immature to decide for herself to have an abortion. The agency said state law prohibited the agency from consenting to the procedure.

Children and families officials declined to comment Monday on whether they planned to appeal Alvarez's decision.

"Since this is still in litigation, I can't speak to what's going on in court," agency spokeswoman Marilyn Munoz told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Attorneys for the girl said the abortion was scheduled for Monday, but it was unclear whether the girl underwent the procedure.

The girl told the judge last week as part of the psychological evaluation process that she wanted an abortion, citing her age and no way to support a baby. The girl's attorneys argue that Florida law protects a minor's right to choose an abortion.

A measure is moving through the state Legislature to require notification of parents or guardians when girls seek abortion. In 2003, the Florida Supreme Court struck down a 1999 law requiring parents to be notified if their minor daughters seek an abortion.

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: abortion; florida; flroida
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To: ThisLittleLightofMine

So this child should be "punished" by being forced to go through with a pregnancy and birth at 13? Nice. This is HER choice because SHE is the one who will have to live with the consequences. Not you.


181 posted on 05/03/2005 1:37:49 PM PDT by blueminnesota
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To: dfwgator
Families, would be lining up to adopt this baby, if they could.



Isn't that the truth. I have cousin in Michigan who chose to go overseas to adopt because the waiting list for a young toddler in Michigan is at the very minimum three years. She's not able to have children and she wasn't even trying to adopt a newborn.

The sad thing is, and the underlying story here is more people would be lining up to adopt the baby than this thirteen year old. I know in Kentucky, the state pays for the first year of the child's college education, continues health care coverage, and pays the family a stipend if they adopt a "special needs" child, which has been broadened to encompass those who are 10 years or older.

My uncle adopted two teen aged daughters (he also had two daughters of his own, one older than the two he adopted, one younger), and when those two children first came to his home, they were an emotional wreck, and acted out, but after being with him for two years, they have adjusted rather well, but there are still some emotional scars that remain. Both girls always tell us how lucky they feel to have found a family and it just breaks my heart to think of the others that are out there, especially after hearing the horrors of foster care and "group homes".
182 posted on 05/03/2005 1:38:47 PM PDT by IMissPresidentReagan ("My Friends we did it....we made a difference. ...All in all not bad, not bad at all." Pres. Reagan)
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To: Aliska

I love it, Sweden--land of sex changes! They probably really did go there but in your young mind they could have said Kalamazoo!

Not saying your people used the herbs, just that abortion has been with us a long time.


183 posted on 05/03/2005 1:45:16 PM PDT by pa mom
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To: pa mom
Not saying your people used the herbs, just that abortion has been with us a long time

Well, I'm not so naive as to say there were undoubtedly things in my family that I will never know about.

My young mind was fairly proficient with geography, with the exception of some SE Asian and ME countries, Russian satellites countries, etc. I would have known the difference between Kalamazoo and Sweden. Can't say that is the case today.

My sister and I used to play map games on family vacations, we'd pick a name and the other had to find it. I think Time magazine used to publish a portion of a map with obscure towns and roads on it for people to identify the location. That did challenge me and I can't say I ever got one right. But I knew where most of the major towns, states and countries were.

My father made a game of making my sister and me memorize and recite each state and capital (ol?). Getting rusty. It was easier then. There were only 48 states :-). Now I've forgotten some of the capitals.

184 posted on 05/03/2005 1:54:42 PM PDT by Aliska
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To: blueminnesota

"This girl is making an unfortunate but wise decision here."

All she will have learned here is that she can "get it" whenever and with whomever she wants. And you and I will pay to make it go away.


185 posted on 05/03/2005 1:54:56 PM PDT by George from New England
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To: pa mom

C'mon, not all those things happen to everyone who has an abortion. I don't agree with abortion, but when you make such generalization (I know, I've read the studies) it makes us all look less reliable. >>>

C'mon, and you say the judge is right by saying nothing will happen to her?

And what about the baby being murdered?

I'll rather look "unreliable" than have the baby killed and the mother injured.


186 posted on 05/03/2005 1:57:58 PM PDT by Coleus (I support ethical, effective and safe stem cell research and use: adult, umbilical cord, bone marrow)
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To: Eva
That has been my question all along. The girl may have the right under state law to have an abortion, but the state does not have the responsibility of paying for it. Let her pay for it herself or let the father pay for the abortion.

It would be interesting to find out who pays for all of these abortions on demand for thirteen year old girls who probably aren't carrying a stack of money around with them.

Here again is another angle for lawmakers to take to combat the abortion industry. No public funds for any abortions and psychological/physical evaluation ( by a board created by the state ) before any abortion can be performed.

Life can be made a living hell for the abortionists with a little smarts and action.

187 posted on 05/03/2005 1:58:39 PM PDT by Jim_Curtis
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To: Coleus

Calm down, I'm on your side.

Just saying you don't want the baby killed is enough. You don't have to bring in breast cancer and suicide. This girl is messed up already, her life will be messy and full of pain, I'm sure. I hope and pray I am wrong.


188 posted on 05/03/2005 2:01:18 PM PDT by pa mom
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To: LWalk18

This girl, pregnant at 13, living in DCF custody since age 9, is going to have plenty of problems, abortion or no abortion. Having this child is not going to turn her life around. >>>

Killing her child will only add to the psychological complications which may affect her later on in life, as well as increasing her chances of getting breast cancer.


189 posted on 05/03/2005 2:01:18 PM PDT by Coleus (I support ethical, effective and safe stem cell research and use: adult, umbilical cord, bone marrow)
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To: pa mom
This girl is messed up already, her life will be messy and full of pain, I'm sure. I hope and pray I am wrong.

At least she has a life, unlike her child will.

190 posted on 05/03/2005 2:02:35 PM PDT by dfwgator (Minutemen: Just doing the jobs that American politicians won't do.)
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To: Coleus

Not everyone has emotional problems about abortion. She will probably feel no guilt and go on to have more. Or maybe she's feel guilt so she'll have 6 or 7 and keep them all. If she's having sex at 13 she has a lot of fertile years.

Either way this is a tragic situation. Acknowledging that her having this baby is a bad thing does not mean you support the abortion. It is possible to admit both options hurt the baby.


191 posted on 05/03/2005 2:05:46 PM PDT by pa mom
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To: Coleus
Killing her child will only add to the psychological complications which may affect her later on in life, as well as increasing her chances of getting breast cancer.

Maybe she will regret the abortion, maybe she won't. Every woman obviously does not regret abortion, and plenty regret adoption or keeping their child. As for the increase in breast cancer, I don't know how significant a increase it will be and considering her poor upbringing and lifestyle choice up to date, it will probably be the least of her problems.

192 posted on 05/03/2005 2:06:32 PM PDT by LWalk18
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To: Jim_Curtis
This would be a good law to pass, requiring minors be evaluated psychologically and physically before legally having an abortion ...

I am guessing that this is part of the admissions counseling and examination. It makes sense that the staff at the clinic would be fully equipped to qualify the patients.

193 posted on 05/03/2005 2:13:09 PM PDT by Cboldt
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To: Aliska

In communities like the one you describe, there really WERE good homes for all the babies who were unwanted by their biological parents.


194 posted on 05/03/2005 2:15:08 PM PDT by GovernmentShrinker
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To: Ron in Acreage
I dont know about the laws in that state but it would be statuary rape at the very least in NJ, and we are one of the most liberal states in the country.
195 posted on 05/03/2005 2:18:01 PM PDT by mware ("God is dead" -- Nietzsche........ "Nope, you are"-- GOD)
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To: pa mom; Aliska

Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme.

How few people seem to know what that song is about.


196 posted on 05/03/2005 2:18:15 PM PDT by GovernmentShrinker
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To: pa mom
The girl is on record stating she wanted to keep it and have momma raise it.

Actually, she is on the record as wanting an abortion, and being darn firm in that conviction. Whatever she said she'd do if the pregancy wasn't terminated was at best an honest second choice, but was more likely designed to get anybody who objected to her decision to "give into" her way.

The fact that this was before a trial judge, and a decision was rendered by a trial judge, still has me puzzled. Florida case law is crystal clear. Last I heard, the trial judge was awaiting a ruling from the appeals court, as to whether ANY court had business in this case.

197 posted on 05/03/2005 2:18:51 PM PDT by Cboldt
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To: RogerRabbit

I wish the women who are associated with Priest For Life, "Silent No More," could have a chat with this girl.


198 posted on 05/03/2005 2:22:37 PM PDT by mware ("God is dead" -- Nietzsche........ "Nope, you are"-- GOD)
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To: Cboldt

Exactly. Going against the law and blocking this girl's right to decide would be judicial activism which I thought we were against. Oh, but if we don't like the rules I guess we can change them in the middle of the game.


199 posted on 05/03/2005 2:27:28 PM PDT by blueminnesota
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To: mware
I wish the women who are associated with Priest For Life, "Silent No More," could have a chat with this girl.

Some people are of bad light. This woman is of such, and she is not worth the time of day. This will not be her last abortion -she's just of bad kind.

200 posted on 05/03/2005 2:29:37 PM PDT by Chief_Joe (From where the sun now sits, I will fight on -FOREVER!!!)
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