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January 6, 1993, Vol 269, No. 1 >
ARTICLE | January 6, 1993

Mandatory Parental Consent to Abortion FREE

Oscar W. Clarke, MD; John Glasson, MD; Allison M. August; John A. Barrasso, MD; Charles H. Epps, Jr, MD; Robert McQuillan, MD; Victoria N. Ruff, MD; Charles W. Plows, MD; George T. Wilkins, Jr, MD; David Orentlicher, MD, JD
[+] Author Affiliations

This report was adopted by the House of Delegates of the American Medical Association at the Annual Meeting, June 1992.

Reprint requests to the Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs, American Medical Association, 515 N State St, Chicago, IL 60610 (David Orentlicher, MD, JD).


JAMA. 1993;269(1):82-86. doi:10.1001/jama.1993.03500010092039
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References

This report analyzes the ethical issues raised by requirements that parents be involved when minors seek an abortion. Parents are generally supportive and understanding and can provide helpful guidance to their children. In some cases, however, parents may respond abusively to the knowledge that their minor child is pregnant or is considering an abortion. In addition, privacy in matters of health care is a profound need of minors as well as adults. Accordingly, the Council concludes that, while minors should be encouraged to discuss their pregnancy with their parents and other adults, minors should not be required to involve their parents before deciding whether to undergo an abortion.

(JAMA. 1993;269:82-86)

REFERENCES

1 +
Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs, American Medical Association.  Confidential care for minors.  In: Proceedings of the House of Delegates, 141st Annual Meeting ; June 21-25, 1992;; Chicago, Ill:198-205.
2 +
Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs, American Medical Association. Code of Medical Ethics: Current Opinions . Chicago, Ill: American Medical Association; 1992;:2.
3 +
Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v Casey, 112 S Ct 2791 (1992).
4 +
Hodgson v Minnesota, 110 S Ct 2926 (1990).
5 +
Planned Parenthood of Central Missouri v Danforth, 428 US 52 (1976).
6 +
Council on Scientific Affairs, American Medical Association.  Confidential health services for adolescents.  In: Proceedings of the House of Delegates, 141st Annual Meeting ; June 21-25, 1992;; Chicago, Ill :289-297.
7 +
Prince v Massachusetts, 321 US 158,166 (1944).
8 +
Parham v JR, 442 US 584, 602 (1979).
9 +
Bowen v American Hospital Association, 476 US 610, 627 n13 (1986).
10 +
National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect Information. Study Findings: Study of National Incidence and Prevalence of Child Abuse and Neglect: 1988 . Washington, DC: US Dept of Health and Human Services; 1988;:3-2.
11 +
Henshaw SK, Kost K.  Parental involvement in minors' abortion decisions. Fam Plann Perspect . 1992;;24:196-207, 213.
12 +
Amaro H, Fried LE, Cabral H, Zuckerman B.  Violence during pregnancy and substance use. Am J Public Health . 1990;;80:575-579.
13 +
McFarlane J, Parker B, Soeken K, Bullock L.  Assessing for abuse during pregnancy: severity and frequency of injuries and associated entry into prenatal care. JAMA . 1992;;267:3176-3178.
14 +
Osofsky JD, Osofsky HJ.  Teenage pregnancy: psychosocial considerations. Clin Obstet Gynecol . 1978;;21:1161-1173.
15 +
English A.  Treating adolescents: legal and ethical considerations. Med Clin North Am . 1990;;74: 1097-1112.
16 +
American Medical Association.  Policy 440.996: gonorrhea control.  In: Policy Compendium . Chicago, Ill: American Medical Association; 1992;:313.
17 +
American Medical Association.  Policy 75.998: opposition to HHS regulations on contraceptive services for minors.  In: Policy Compendium . Chicago, Ill: American Medical Association; 1992;:55.
18 +
American Medical Association.  Policy 75.999: teenage pregnancy.  In: Policy Compendium . Chicago, Ill: American Medical Association; 1992;:55.
19 +
Binkin N, Gold J, Cates W.  Illegal-abortion deaths in the United States: why are they still occurring? Fam Plann Perspect . 1982;;14:163-167.
20 +
Worthington EL, Larson DB, Lyons JS, et al.  Mandatory parental involvement prior to adolescent abortion. J Adolesc Health . 1991;;12:138-142.
21 +
Zabin LS, Hirsch MB, Emerson MR, Raymond E.  To whom do inner-city minors talk about their pregnancies? adolescents' communication with parents and parent surrogates. Fam Plann Perspect . 1992;;24:148-154, 173.
22 +
Gittler J, Quigley-Rick M, Saks MJ.  Adolescent health care decision making: the law and public policy.  In: Carnegie Council on Adolescent Development: Working Papers . New York, NY: Carnegie Corp; 1990;:37-48.
23 +
Lewis CC.  A comparison of minors' and adults' pregnancy decisions. Am J Orthopsychiatry . 1980;; 53:446-453.
24 +
Weithorn LA, Campbell SB.  The competency of children and adolescents to make informed treatment decisions. Child Dev . 1982;;53:1589-1598.
25 +
Ambuel B, Rappaport J.  Development trends in adolescents' psychological and legal competence to consent to abortion. Law Hum Behav . 1992;;16: 129-154.
26 +
National Research Council. Risking the Future: Adolescent Sexuality, Pregnancy, and Childbearing . Washington, DC: National Academy Press; 1987;;1:9-10.
27 +
American Public Health Association.  Resolution 9001: adolescent access to comprehensive, confidential reproductive health care.  In: Public Policy Statements of the American Public Health Association . Washington, DC: American Public Health Association; 1990;:453.
28 +
Society for Adolescent Medicine.  Position statements on reproductive health care for adolescents. J Adolesc Health . 1991;;12:657-661.
29 +
Joint Statement of American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics, Organization for Obstetric, Gynecologic and Neonatal Nurses, National Medical Association. Confidentiality in Adolescent Health Care . Washington, DC: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; 1988;.
30 +
Minn Stat Ann §144.343 (West 1989).
31 +
Hodgson v Minnesota, 648 F Supp 756 (D Minn 1986), affd, 110 S Ct 2926 (1990).
32 +
Ill Ann Stat ch 23 para 2053, §3 (Smith-Hurd 1992).
33 +
Greenberger MD, Connor K.  Parental notice and consent for abortion: out of step with family law principles and policies. Fam Plann Perspect . 1991;; 23:31-35.
34 +
Donovan P. Our Daughters' Decisions: The Conflict in State Law on Abortion and Other Issues . New York, NY: Alan Guttmacher Institute; 1992;: 14-15.
35 +
Crosby MC, English A.  Mandatory parental involvement/judicial bypass laws: do they promote adolescents' health? J Adolesc Health . 1991;;12:143-147.
36 +
In re TW, 551 So 2d 1186 (Fla 1989).
37 +
American Academy of Pediatrics v Van de Kamp, 263 Cal Rptr 46 (Cal Ct App 1989).
38 +
Me Rev Stat Ann tit 22, §1597-A(4) (1992).
39 +
Conn Gen Stat §19a-601 (1990).
40 +
Wis Stat §146.78 (1989-90).
41 +
Cartoof VG, Klerman LV.  Parental consent for abortion: impact of the Massachusetts law. Am J Public Health . 1986;;76:397-400.
42 +
Blum RW, Resnick MD, Stark TA.  The impact of a parental notification law on adolescent abortion decision-making. Am J Public Health . 1987;;77:619-620.
43 +
Rogers JL, Boruch RF, Stoms GB, DeMoya D.  Impact of the Minnesota parental notification law on abortion and birth. Am J Public Health . 1991;; 81:294-298.
44 +
Yates S, Pliner AJ.  Judging maturity in the courts: the Massachusetts consent statute. Am J Public Health . 1988;;78:646-649.

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Country-Specific Mortality and Growth Failure in Infancy and Yound Children and Association With Material Stature

Use interactive graphics and maps to view and sort country-specific infant and early dhildhood mortality and growth failure data and their association with maternal

1 +
Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs, American Medical Association.  Confidential care for minors.  In: Proceedings of the House of Delegates, 141st Annual Meeting ; June 21-25, 1992;; Chicago, Ill:198-205.
2 +
Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs, American Medical Association. Code of Medical Ethics: Current Opinions . Chicago, Ill: American Medical Association; 1992;:2.
3 +
Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v Casey, 112 S Ct 2791 (1992).
4 +
Hodgson v Minnesota, 110 S Ct 2926 (1990).
5 +
Planned Parenthood of Central Missouri v Danforth, 428 US 52 (1976).
6 +
Council on Scientific Affairs, American Medical Association.  Confidential health services for adolescents.  In: Proceedings of the House of Delegates, 141st Annual Meeting ; June 21-25, 1992;; Chicago, Ill :289-297.
7 +
Prince v Massachusetts, 321 US 158,166 (1944).
8 +
Parham v JR, 442 US 584, 602 (1979).
9 +
Bowen v American Hospital Association, 476 US 610, 627 n13 (1986).
10 +
National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect Information. Study Findings: Study of National Incidence and Prevalence of Child Abuse and Neglect: 1988 . Washington, DC: US Dept of Health and Human Services; 1988;:3-2.
11 +
Henshaw SK, Kost K.  Parental involvement in minors' abortion decisions. Fam Plann Perspect . 1992;;24:196-207, 213.
12 +
Amaro H, Fried LE, Cabral H, Zuckerman B.  Violence during pregnancy and substance use. Am J Public Health . 1990;;80:575-579.
13 +
McFarlane J, Parker B, Soeken K, Bullock L.  Assessing for abuse during pregnancy: severity and frequency of injuries and associated entry into prenatal care. JAMA . 1992;;267:3176-3178.
14 +
Osofsky JD, Osofsky HJ.  Teenage pregnancy: psychosocial considerations. Clin Obstet Gynecol . 1978;;21:1161-1173.
15 +
English A.  Treating adolescents: legal and ethical considerations. Med Clin North Am . 1990;;74: 1097-1112.
16 +
American Medical Association.  Policy 440.996: gonorrhea control.  In: Policy Compendium . Chicago, Ill: American Medical Association; 1992;:313.
17 +
American Medical Association.  Policy 75.998: opposition to HHS regulations on contraceptive services for minors.  In: Policy Compendium . Chicago, Ill: American Medical Association; 1992;:55.
18 +
American Medical Association.  Policy 75.999: teenage pregnancy.  In: Policy Compendium . Chicago, Ill: American Medical Association; 1992;:55.
19 +
Binkin N, Gold J, Cates W.  Illegal-abortion deaths in the United States: why are they still occurring? Fam Plann Perspect . 1982;;14:163-167.
20 +
Worthington EL, Larson DB, Lyons JS, et al.  Mandatory parental involvement prior to adolescent abortion. J Adolesc Health . 1991;;12:138-142.
21 +
Zabin LS, Hirsch MB, Emerson MR, Raymond E.  To whom do inner-city minors talk about their pregnancies? adolescents' communication with parents and parent surrogates. Fam Plann Perspect . 1992;;24:148-154, 173.
22 +
Gittler J, Quigley-Rick M, Saks MJ.  Adolescent health care decision making: the law and public policy.  In: Carnegie Council on Adolescent Development: Working Papers . New York, NY: Carnegie Corp; 1990;:37-48.
23 +
Lewis CC.  A comparison of minors' and adults' pregnancy decisions. Am J Orthopsychiatry . 1980;; 53:446-453.
24 +
Weithorn LA, Campbell SB.  The competency of children and adolescents to make informed treatment decisions. Child Dev . 1982;;53:1589-1598.
25 +
Ambuel B, Rappaport J.  Development trends in adolescents' psychological and legal competence to consent to abortion. Law Hum Behav . 1992;;16: 129-154.
26 +
National Research Council. Risking the Future: Adolescent Sexuality, Pregnancy, and Childbearing . Washington, DC: National Academy Press; 1987;;1:9-10.
27 +
American Public Health Association.  Resolution 9001: adolescent access to comprehensive, confidential reproductive health care.  In: Public Policy Statements of the American Public Health Association . Washington, DC: American Public Health Association; 1990;:453.
28 +
Society for Adolescent Medicine.  Position statements on reproductive health care for adolescents. J Adolesc Health . 1991;;12:657-661.
29 +
Joint Statement of American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics, Organization for Obstetric, Gynecologic and Neonatal Nurses, National Medical Association. Confidentiality in Adolescent Health Care . Washington, DC: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; 1988;.
30 +
Minn Stat Ann §144.343 (West 1989).
31 +
Hodgson v Minnesota, 648 F Supp 756 (D Minn 1986), affd, 110 S Ct 2926 (1990).
32 +
Ill Ann Stat ch 23 para 2053, §3 (Smith-Hurd 1992).
33 +
Greenberger MD, Connor K.  Parental notice and consent for abortion: out of step with family law principles and policies. Fam Plann Perspect . 1991;; 23:31-35.
34 +
Donovan P. Our Daughters' Decisions: The Conflict in State Law on Abortion and Other Issues . New York, NY: Alan Guttmacher Institute; 1992;: 14-15.
35 +
Crosby MC, English A.  Mandatory parental involvement/judicial bypass laws: do they promote adolescents' health? J Adolesc Health . 1991;;12:143-147.
36 +
In re TW, 551 So 2d 1186 (Fla 1989).
37 +
American Academy of Pediatrics v Van de Kamp, 263 Cal Rptr 46 (Cal Ct App 1989).
38 +
Me Rev Stat Ann tit 22, §1597-A(4) (1992).
39 +
Conn Gen Stat §19a-601 (1990).
40 +
Wis Stat §146.78 (1989-90).
41 +
Cartoof VG, Klerman LV.  Parental consent for abortion: impact of the Massachusetts law. Am J Public Health . 1986;;76:397-400.
42 +
Blum RW, Resnick MD, Stark TA.  The impact of a parental notification law on adolescent abortion decision-making. Am J Public Health . 1987;;77:619-620.
43 +
Rogers JL, Boruch RF, Stoms GB, DeMoya D.  Impact of the Minnesota parental notification law on abortion and birth. Am J Public Health . 1991;; 81:294-298.
44 +
Yates S, Pliner AJ.  Judging maturity in the courts: the Massachusetts consent statute. Am J Public Health . 1988;;78:646-649.

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