Florida judge approves abortion for 13-year-old

[cb88]

Whole story: http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/05/03/ab....ap/index.html

WEST PALM BEACH, Florida (AP) -- A judge ruled that a 13-year-old girl at the center of an abortion fight with the state may terminate her pregnancy, and Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said Tuesday that the state will not appeal further.

Juvenile Judge Ronald Alvarez ruled Monday 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, which represented the girl.

It was unclear Tuesday whether the girl, 14 weeks pregnant and known only as L.G. in court papers, had yet undergone an abortion. Calls to the girl's attorneys seeking an update were not immediately returned.

State Department of Children & Families spokeswoman Marilyn Munoz said the agency would "respectfully comply with the court's decision." She declined to provide further details.

"We are working for the best interest of the young girl," Munoz said.

The teen became pregnant after running away from the DCF shelter where she lives.

God help us all.

[Woodmonkey]

Originally Posted by cb88

Juvenile Judge Ronald Alvarez ruled Monday that the teen, who has been in state custody for four years, would not be physically or emotionally harmed by the procedure.

He can predict that there will be no emotional harm? What about the women who are just now speaking out about the guilt etc they feel about killing their unborn children years ago?

"He ruled that she is competent, that she has made a decision and that she has a right to act on that decision,"

Competent? She is only 13 and that is a life altering decision.

The teen became pregnant after running away from the DCF shelter where she lives.

According to this, she has been in state custody since she was 9. I wonder why? What is a DCF shelter?

[BrianK]

Originally Posted by Woodmonkey

He can predict that there will be no emotional harm? What about the women who are just now speaking out about the guilt etc they feel about killing their unborn children years ago?

Most likely he had a psychologist or several psychologists evaluate her. Amazing how that works in determining that a 13 yr. old can make this kind of a decision but teens this age can't distinguish right from wrong when murdering someone. If I were a suspicious man I'd suggest that caring for this teen and her child was more about cost than human life.

As an aside to this. No where has it been reported that the father was asked or even if they determined who the father was and his guilt of rape concerning this teens age.

Originally Posted by Woodmonkey

Competent? She is only 13 and that is a life altering decision.

Life altering for two people. One that made the decision to experience life and the one that was the result of the experience.

Originally Posted by Woodmonkey

According to this, she has been in state custody since she was 9. I wonder why? What is a DCF shelter?

I too have no clue about what a DCF shelter is but after 4 years there apparently the value system they generate needs evaluation. But this is Florida and if there is any state that has had more than it's share of child neglect cases by state agencies this is the state.

Something odd though if you think about it. The Hispanic community doesn't seem to be having the same kind of problems other ethinic groups have.

[apachefran]

Originally Posted by cb88

Whole story: http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/05/03/ab....ap/index.html


God help us all.

I am stunned that a judge did this.Obviously the girl reguardless of age knows about sex, she made the choice to have unprotected sex. I do think she is way to younge to be a parent, or for that matter to have sex, but thats after the fact. The main point is the unborn child, who also has rights by law.I can not see where carrying this child will do the girl mental harm shes gone this far, so she should carry the child then have it given to parents who can and will provide a loving home.We went to Conroy Tx, a few years ago where the largest cross in the western hemisphere is, at this siteis also a monument dedicated to the lost souls of babies of abortion, coming out of the monumennt are a set of arms and in the hands is a very small fetus.it is heart wrentching.Kids now of days just seem to have no idea what morals are, unfortunatly their examples are not good.It is so sad to remember all the inocent babies who have suffered an abortion, they do feel pain, at 14 weeks this little soul will suffer torture. I'm absolutly against abortion, unless it means saving the mother, and even at that its a 50-50 choice to me.It strikes me as so horrid that younge kids give no though to consecequences(sp) of their actions. Granted this girl needs guidence but for the love of God, so does the judge,I hope God has mercy for him too.Just my opinion...

[cb88]

Originally Posted by Woodmonkey

He can predict that there will be no emotional harm? What about the women who are just now speaking out about the guilt etc they feel about killing their unborn children years ago?

And this is a very good question....probably not one asked by the judge, nor one that really concerns him.

Competent? She is only 13 and that is a life altering decision.

Yup...yet she can't get her ears pierced without her parents, or a tattoo....but, she can get an abortion.

According to this, she has been in state custody since she was 9. I wonder why? What is a DCF shelter?

If I had to guess, I'd say it's a state home for foster kids without foster homes. This child is probably very troubled, and it's sad that they are allowing this to take place. I wonder if she even knows what she's doing or if some liberal worker at the shelter talked her into this.

[JohnRN]

Cripes! 13 years old...

[Woodmonkey]

Originally Posted by BrianK

As an aside to this. No where has it been reported that the father was asked or even if they determined who the father was and his guilt of rape concerning this teens age.

That's true.

Life altering for two people. One that made the decision to experience life and the one that was the result of the experience.

That unborn child ...

I too have no clue about what a DCF shelter is but after 4 years there apparently the value system they generate needs evaluation. But this is Florida and if there is any state that has had more than it's share of child neglect cases by state agencies this is the state.

Florida's record is not a good one and Bill O'Reilly has made it his mission to expose that fact. What is going on there?

Something odd though if you think about it. The Hispanic community doesn't seem to be having the same kind of problems other ethinic groups have.

No, they don't. They also are, generally speaking, strong practicing Catholics. Maybe that is it. Another group that doesn't have these types of problems are the Latter Day Saints. When I volunteered at Birthright, an organization that exists to provide an real alternative to abortion (shelter, medical/legal care, clothing etc), we didn't get Mormon girls. They took care of their own.

That was in the 70's and the time when pro-life was mainly a Catholic thing. I'm glad that the other Christian denominations have joined in with us in this.