(no subject)
So anyway, to that rant I was going to have earlier. According to Five news, which I just heard in the break between Conspiracy Theory, 83% of respondents to a poll believe that parents should be informed about a daughter's abortion. Doesn't really surprise me terribly, I guess, but I strongly believe that it is up to any teenager to tell her parents herself. If she wants to keep her parents unaware of her sexual activity, that is her right. It is not appropriate for any medical or healthcare professional to reveal any information in a consultation with a teenager to that teenager's parents. If a girl confides in a school counsellor, teacher or other person in a professional capacity, then that confidant(e) does not have any right to break confidentiality. The mother in today's case was talking about her 'rights as a parent' - IMO in a situation like this, she has none. Any decision are up to her daughter. The most that anyone in whom the girl confides can do is to encourage her to tell her parent(s).
It's the same debate that comes up every now and again among people I know - should parents be informed if their children are requesting contraception from a GP. Medical ethics dictate not, a surprising number of people of my acquaintance believe that parents should be informed. In an ideal world children would be able to talk to their parents about their sexual activity and any concerns they may have about their reproductive or indeed emotional health, but really, how many children feel able to do that with their parents?
This case to me says more about the relationship between this particular mother and daughter than it suggests any need for changes in the law. I find it highly unpleasant that the mother publicised the story and her outrage, I have to wonder whether she even asked her daughter's permission before so doing? Or does she think she is within her rights as a mother to do so without thought to the consequences. Of course, it may be a consenual decision, but really, does the daughter need that type of notoriety and half the country to know what she has been going through? Is she not entitled to the privacy to recover from the termination that she doubtless needs?
And the Daily Mail's coverage of the whole thing was to me just irresponsible. As is often the case, a headline that presents a wholly one sided view of the matter :(
It's the same debate that comes up every now and again among people I know - should parents be informed if their children are requesting contraception from a GP. Medical ethics dictate not, a surprising number of people of my acquaintance believe that parents should be informed. In an ideal world children would be able to talk to their parents about their sexual activity and any concerns they may have about their reproductive or indeed emotional health, but really, how many children feel able to do that with their parents?
This case to me says more about the relationship between this particular mother and daughter than it suggests any need for changes in the law. I find it highly unpleasant that the mother publicised the story and her outrage, I have to wonder whether she even asked her daughter's permission before so doing? Or does she think she is within her rights as a mother to do so without thought to the consequences. Of course, it may be a consenual decision, but really, does the daughter need that type of notoriety and half the country to know what she has been going through? Is she not entitled to the privacy to recover from the termination that she doubtless needs?
And the Daily Mail's coverage of the whole thing was to me just irresponsible. As is often the case, a headline that presents a wholly one sided view of the matter :(