Mandatory Parental Consent to Abortion
- Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs, American Medical Association;
- Oscar W. Clarke, MD;
- John Glasson, MD;
- Allison M. August;
- John A. Barrasso, MD;
- Charles H. Epps, Jr, MD;
- Robert McQuillan, MD;
- Victoria N. Ruff, MD;
- Charles W. Plows, MD;
- George T. Wilkins, Jr, MD;
- David Orentlicher, MD, JD
Abstract
This report analyzes the ethical issues raised by requirements that parents be involved when minors seek an abortion. Parents are generally supportive and understanding and can provide helpful guidance to their children. In some cases, however, parents may respond abusively to the knowledge that their minor child is pregnant or is considering an abortion. In addition, privacy in matters of health care is a profound need of minors as well as adults. Accordingly, the Council concludes that, while minors should be encouraged to discuss their pregnancy with their parents and other adults, minors should not be required to involve their parents before deciding whether to undergo an abortion.
(JAMA. 1993;269:82-86)
Footnotes
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This report was adopted by the House of Delegates of the American Medical Association at the Annual Meeting, June 1992.
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Reprint requests to the Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs, American Medical Association, 515 N State St, Chicago, IL 60610 (David Orentlicher, MD, JD).
