Parental consent for medical procedures should include access to abortion.
The Alberta government under Premier Danielle Smith has made some recent policy announcements relating to parental rights and the protection of children. In the area of medical gender transitions, they have promised to ban medical transitions for minors, such as hormone therapy and puberty blockers. They have also promised to ensure schools inform parents if a child wants to express a gender different than their biological gender at school. These are good policies that recognize the wrong of allowing young people to consent to life altering medical decisions without the input of their parents. It is also an opportunity to ask them to do the same when it comes to the issue of abortion.
For a teen to have an abortion, there is currently no legal requirement for parental consent or even parental notification. Most treatments, from dental work to surgeries, involve parental discussions and consent. Abortion should be no different.
We have written extensively about parental consent for abortion, particularly how girls should not be left alone in a time of crisis. We have explained how notifying parents can be balanced with doctor-patient confidentiality and access to health care services. We have shared stories of school employees helping a teen get an abortion without her parents’ knowledge – the same schools that need parent or guardian permission to take students on a field trip!
Allowing abortion without parental consent limits a teen’s access to follow up care, both physical and emotional. A boyfriend or abuser can too easily be the only voice speaking into a young woman’s decision, and many women report feeling pressured into abortion. Ensuring parental involvement promotes meaningful support for girls facing an unexpected pregnancy and honours parental rights and responsibilities.
If you live in Alberta, an Alberta pro-life group is taking action on this issue! Prolife Alberta writes:
“Danielle Smith has made headlines recently for her proposal to require parental involvement in gender-related medical decisions for minors.
Smith’s proposal is an important acknowledgment that parents are not bystanders in their children’s lives, but active participants who deserve a seat at the operating table. It’s encouraging to see a leader who is willing to take bold steps to protect children through the rights of parents.
But there’s still more work to do. While Smith’s proposal ensures parental involvement in gender treatments, it doesn’t yet address one of the most isolating issues facing minors today: parental consent for abortion.”
You can find a link from Prolife Alberta to email Premier Smith about this issue, along with a sample email to get you started.
If you live in another province, it is important to know that parental consent is one area where provincial governments have an opportunity to get involved in legislating abortion. Health care is a provincial issue, and parental consent is something we can advocate for in every province. Take a moment today to email your provincial MLA or MPP and ask them what they think about the need for parental involvement in a minor’s abortion decision.