Florida calls teen ‘too immature’ for an abortion. But forced motherhood is fine? | Jill Filipovic
GuardianAug 18, 2022
A Florida judge has ruled that a 16-year-old, who was seeking a court waiver to terminate her pregnancy without parental consent, cannot receive an abortion because she isn't "mature" enough.
Mon. saw an appellate court uphold the lower court's ruling that found the teen - referred to as Jane Doe 22-B - "had not established by clear and convincing evidence that she was sufficiently mature to decide whether to terminate her pregnancy."
This case is the direct result of the reversal of Roe v. Wade and highlights the dangers of parental consent laws. Rather than trusting and listening to the teen, the state of Florida is effectively forcing her to give birth - ironically deeming her mature enough to raise a child, but not mature enough to make choices about her body.
Doe was seeking to bypass Florida's parental consent law - legislation designed to protect vulnerable minors as well as their unborn children. Facing the recent death of a close friend she was under significant stress and a judge has rightly determined that she needs more time to make an informed decision.
There's a 5% chance that abortion will be banned nationally in the United States before 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.