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Lester E. Richardson II, DO
Overland Park, Kan

JAMA. 1993;269(17):2210-2211.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

To the Editor.

—I read with concern the Council Report submitted by the Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs of the American Medical Association.¹ I am disappointed that the Council came to the conclusion that parental involvement is not necessary when a minor seeks an abortion.

Does the physician who chooses to perform an abortion on a minor have the confidence that the patient is knowledgeable about her past medical history? Abortions are not without risks, and to perform these operations without the benefit of the parents' knowledge of the young girl's medical history invites calamity.

Then there is the issue of intelligent decision making. Undeniably, a girl could become pregnant before she reaches her teenage years. Do we really believe that this girl has had adequate life experiences to make such a pivotal choice as abortion? Without mandatory waiting periods, counseling, and parental guidance, a young girl could . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

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