HOW MANY STATES HAVE PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT LAWS?
Thirty-eight states have passed laws providing for parental consent or parental notification before a minor may obtain an abortion. 31 of these states have these laws “in force.” Migration to obtain an abortion is a reason for enacting more parental involvement laws. Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi all have parental involvement laws in force. Currently, Florida, with its rising abortion rate, is serving as a host state for those who may be migrating. HOW WILL CHILDREN BENEFIT FROM THIS LAW? Parents need to know when someone performs surgery on their daughters, so the parent can watch for physical and mental complications such as serious infection and depression. Both of these can be life-threatening. When a child is injured by abortion, the parent is responsible for all follow- up care. Because 80 percent of abortions on teenagers occur in outpatient clinics, a girl is unlikely to have the benefit of conferring with a family physician about her decision. Parents are more likely to fol
