That is the fundamental question facing voters next week when confronting Proposition 85, otherwise known as the “parental notification” proposition. The subject of this proposition deals with fundamental legal issues involving the protection of minor girls, not a woman’s right to choose an abortion. Don’t be fooled. Proposition 85 involves minor children, not legally adult women seeking a legal abortion. Opponents of the proposition stand to lose a lot of tax money if it passes, so their “business” is at stake. What is being requested in this legislation is a law to ensure that a parent of a young girl possesses a legal right to know when surgery is being performed on her and/or whether abortive medications have been administered to her. Before you vote on Tuesday, I would urge you to consider a single question. Would you want to know?If passed, nothing changes, except maybe the amount of cash pocketed by abortion mills. A parent could technically get notified and consent to an abortion for their child. Nothing is changing as far as “abortion rights” for children. If a minor in an abusive home is seeking remedy from parental notification, there are waivers which are afforded to these minors by the courts within this proposition. The opponents of the proposition don’t want you to know that. They’ve launched a costly campaign to defeat your right to know on Nov. 7 because they stand to lose money. For children in an abusive environment, three protections within the proposition are in place. First, if the court determines that a child’s parents would abuse her, the court will order an abortion without parental notification. Secondly, if the court determines that a minor girl is mature enough to give informed consent, the state will waive notification. Lastly, if there is a medical emergency, the abortion can be performed immediately. There are no loop holes here, just a law that would make it a requirement for abortion providers to notify you when your minor child is seeking an abortion. Would you want to know?
What does it mean for you to know that most abortions performed on minors are paid for by the state or other adults not legally responsible for the health and well-being of your child? What opponents don’t want you to know is even more disturbing. Technically speaking, child abuse and statutory rape can occur in cases where abortions are secretly performed on minors and parents are the last to know because the abortion provider is not legally required to notify a minor’s p
arent. Planned Parenthood claims to be fully compliant with mandatory reporting of child abuse crimes, but one need only to listen to the tape-recorded telephone conversations which are available on the web at www.yeson85.net between their clinics and a “13 year old girl” to understand how little protection is in place for a child in this situation. If you’re not disturbed, then something is wrong with you.Post operative complications from performing abortions on young girls include infections, infertility and in some cases, death. The child suffers the consequences of a decision made in fear, and the parent is unable to help because they have not been notified. Opponents vehemently want the status quo because of money and the politics over legal abortion.
Let’s suppose you work full-time with two daughters attending the local middle and high schools. Tomorrow one of them will be taken by someone you’ve never met to an abortion center for surgery. Pre-operative pelvic examinations and lab tests are done on her, IV’s are started, general or local anesthesia is administered to her, invasive gynecological surgery takes place and then it’s over. Your daughter is transported to and from school to this facility and discharged with little if any post operative care because all of this happened in a single afternoon. What if she developed an infection? Would she have the presence of mind with a high fever to know that she needed to be in the hospital because of a terrible post op infection? How many girls neglect their health because of “their secret”? Who loves your child more than you do; a school counselor, a school nurse, or the abortion provider who sees her one time? The abortion center stands to gain between $300- $400 for surgery funded entirely by your tax dollars and mine. What do they stand to lose from not notifying you? That’s the real question.
My daughter was hospitalized last year after two knee surgeries with unexpected complications from secondary health issues, including the surgery. It wasn’t even a question of our participation in her care; it was expected. Her father and I were her primary advocates. Why are we excluded in a crisis pregnancy? Follow the politics, follow the money. At least 30 states in the United States have “notification” laws in place to protect minors. Why is California among the last to adopt these protections? It’s because the largest percentage of abortions performed on minors are performed in New York and California and abortion providers are the strongest lobby against your right to know.
In a state that has laws prohibiting minors from taking aspirin at school without parental oversight, we are still not allowed to know when that same child seeks a surgical procedure that could affect her health physically and emotionally for the rest of her life.
Prop 85 is not about consent. Your “Yes” vote is about your right to raise your own child. Read through the rhetoric and make an informed decision next week. Would you want to know?
Tammy Maher is a resident of El Dorado Hills and bi-weekly columnist for the Mountain Democrat. You can reach her by email at familyfare@sbcglobal.net or on the web at www.familyfare.blogspot.com
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10 comments:
Of course as a parent I want to know if my daughter is facing an unintended pregnancy. However, I also don't want her to feel as though her only option is to go before a judge. As a parent I've discussed with my son and daughter why I think they should postpone sexual activity - and if they think are mature enough for sex, then I told them they must also be mature enough to use contraception. And, I made sure they also knew they could come to me and I support whatever decision they wanted to make regarding the pregnancy. And last, I wanted them to know who else they could turn to for support and safe health care. Keeping my daughter safe is more important than my need to know. Don't take my word for it, ask Ruth in the Bible. I'm voting No on Prop 85.
Nothing about Prop 85 changes your daughter's abortion rights since you would consent to the abortion either way. She would not have to go before a judge. You claim all your communication lines are open to you and your son and daughter. Why would you vote to stifle another's parent's right to know? Putting biblical context into your argument was clever but not very theological as the same bible you quoted also has a many other antithetical passages (Jeremiah 1:5) "Before you were formed in the body of your mother I had knowledge of you, and before your birth I made you holy; I have given you the work of being a prophet to the nations"
TO ANONYMOUS:
Of course as a parent I want to know if my daughter is facing an unintended pregnancy.
(GREAT, THEN HELP THE REST OF US SO WE GET THIS PASSED!)
However, I also don't want her to feel as though her only option is to go before a judge.
(READ THE PROPOSITION. YOU OR YOUR HUSBAND MUST BEAT YOUR CHILD TOO. THAT'S WHY SHE WOULD HAVE TO GO BEFORE THE JUDGE.)
As a parent I've discussed with my son and daughter why I think they should postpone sexual activity - and if they think are mature enough for sex, then I told them they must also be mature enough to use contraception.
(I THOUGHT YOU WERE A BIBLE READER AS YOU MENTION RUTH BELOW...CONTRACEPTION? WHY NOT JUST TEACH THEM ABOUT THE RYTHM METHOD WHILE YOUR AT IT? OH YEAH..STD'S. HOW 'BOUT SOME MARRIAGE INSTRUCTION TOO AND WHY PEOPLE ENGAGE IN THE MARITAL ACT..FOR THE PROCREATION OF CHILDREN.)
And, I made sure they also knew they could come to me and I support whatever decision they wanted to make regarding the pregnancy.
(THIS INFERS THAT YOU WOULD ALSO SUPPORT THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO KILL YOUR GRANDCHILD. THERE GOES YOUR GRANDCHILD DOWN THE DRAIN AND A LIFE OF PAIN, MISERY, ANGUISH FOR YOUR DAUGHTER OR SON AND FOR YOU...THE ONE WHO "SUPPORTED" THEIR DESCISION. WOULD YOU ALSO GIVE THEM LITERATURE ON POST ABORTION SYNDROME, THI INCREASED RISKS OF BREAST CANCER?)
And last, I wanted them to know who else they could turn to for support and safe health care.
(LONG LIVE PLANNED PARENTHOOD?) Keeping my daughter safe is more important than my need to know.
(YOU DESERVE PLANNED PARENTHOOD. MARGARET SANGER WOULD JUST LOVE YOU! I HOPE YOUR DAUGHTER'S NOT ALLERGIC TO ANYTHING OR GETS AN INFECTION AFTER HER ABORTION. TOO BAD SEVERAL OF THEIR OFFICES ARE CLOSING, OTHERWISE YOU COULD FIND SOME WORK THERE. THEY NEED MORE ESCORTS SINCE THAT DRAMA TEACHER AT LORRETO HIGH SCHOOL IS NOT "VOLUNTEERING" ANYMORE. SHE NOW HAS A ONE WOMAN "PLAY" ABOUT WOMEN'S RIGHTS. THEY LOVE PEOPLE LIKE YOU.)
Don't take my word for it, ask Ruth in the Bible.
(RTH 4:13 " SO BOAZ TOOK RUTH AND SHE BECAME HIS WIFE. THEN HE WENT TO HER, AND THE LORD ENABLED HER TO CONCEIVE, AND SHE GAVE BIRTH TO A SON." The child eventually became the father of Jesse and the grandfather of David, King of Israel RTH 4:17-22. RTH 4:17-22 "He was the father of Jesse, the father of David. This, then, is the family line of Perez: Perez was the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, Salmon the father of Boaz, Boaz the father of Obed, Obed the
father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David." So God brought Obed, and ultimately David and Jesus, from this devoted woman; and He accepted her into the line of believerS tracing back to Adam and Eve who came by faith alone to the One who can meet all one's needs.
GEE, I DON'T SEE ANYTHING THERE ABOUT DECISION MAKING OR PARENTAL NOTIFICATION OR ABORTION.
HEY ANONYMOUS, IT'S A GOOD THING RUTH OR ANY OF HER DECENDENTS DIDN'T HAVE AN ABORTION, OTHERWISE JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF WOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN BORN!)
)
I'm voting No on Prop 85.
(IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR ALL OF US WHO WANT THIS TO PASS, IF YOU JUST STAYED HOME OR IF YOU WOULD JUST SKIP THIS PROPOSITION WHILE IN THE VOTING BOOTH. WE DON'T NEED YOUR "NO" VOTE. VOTING IN A DEMOCRACY SHOULD HELP THE MAJORITY WITH MORAL ETHICAL LEGISLATION. YOUR POST FOLLOWS ZERO LOGIC. DID YOU READ MRS. MAHER'S COLUMN OR JUST SKIM IT? I ENCOURAGE YOU TO VOTE YES ON PROP 85, SO PEOPLE LIKE ME CAN GET A PHONE CALL FROM MY DAUGHTER'S SCHOOL "COUNSELOR" INFORMING ME THAT SHE IS ABOUT TO GIVE HER A RIDE TO PLANNED PARENTHOOD FOR AN ABORTION. YOUR YES VOTE WOULD HELP ME TO SAVE MY GRANDCHILD. I'D EVEN TELL MY DAUGHTER THAT I WOULD TAKE CARE OF THE BABY UNTIL SHE CAN HANDLE IT HERSELF. SO YOU SEE, WE JUST DON'T VOTE FOR OUR OWN SELFISH INTERESTS, WE AS A COMMUNITY VOTE TO HELP OTHERS...LIKE ME AND THE MILLIONS WHO SIGNED THE PETION TO GET THIS ON THE BALLOT AGAIN.
WhhoooWeeee, this posting just opened a can of worms. I'll stick with my canned Chicken, ya know.... Chicken Of The Sea!
I think it's important to note to both anonymous I & anonymous II - this proposition has nothing to do with abortion rights - as abortion remains legal in the state of California. However, current law is such that minor children may not receive medical treatment without notification and consent of the parent and it's apparent that abortion providers have been in violation of that law. You don't just give meds and do surgery on kids without the knowledge of their parent. When you are a legal adult, you can direct your medical care.
If you vote yes on this issue, you'll be just like those uneducated people fighting in Iraq
If you vote yes, I'll support it. If you vote no, I'll support it. Just please vote for me. Thanks Phil Angelides
Great post, Mrs. Maher! It really means a lot to know that someone cares enough to take the time and write something on the truth of "Yes on 85".
What a very explosive article. This is really rocking El Dolrado Hills!
I support this Proposition.
Re-Elect me and I won't do more for my name is Doolittle!
Rejected. Proposition 85, an initiative that would require parents to be notified 48 hours before their child had an abortion, unless the parents or a judge waived the requirement. Voters rejected an almost identical measure, Proposition 73, last November.
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