In April of 2003, the Virginia House of Delegates passed House Bill 1402 with a veto-proof majority of 70 to 29. The passing of this bill requires that minors seeking abortions must obtain parental consent (that is to be notarized) before a physician can carry about the abortion. The intent of this bill is to force more women to carry their pregnancies to term; in other words, this bill takes the decision to have a child away from the mother and places it the hands of someone else. Requiring parental consent in such a delicate and private matter raises great concern in my opinion. First and foremost, this bill is dangerous to young women physically, mentally, and socially. Secondly, minors are currently allowed to seek confidential medical treatment for many other more serious conditions such as alcohol and drug abuse. Lastly, this bill "seriously infringes" on a person's right to confidential medical treatment. Given these three very broad but very serious faults of HB 1402, one can rationally expect that this bill will result in much more serious problems than the one that it is intended to fix.
Requiring parental consent for minors wishing to have an abortion will have very serious and dangerous consequences for the young women. By requiring a girl to tell her parents that she is pregnant and wants to have an abortion, the House is automatically prolonging the decision period in a matter in which time is of the absolute essence. Abortions done during or after the second trimester of pregnancy are much riskier to the woman than abortions performed within the first few months of pregnancy. On an individual basis (the micro level), the House is increasing the "cost" of making a quick rational decision. According to the Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia's web page, studies indicate that as many as thirty percent of girls who did not inform their parents of their decision to abort their pregnancy had a history of family violence by one or both of the parents.
