# Does the State have the power to force an abortion?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-state-have-the-power-to-force-an-abortion/969987>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [August 20, 2022, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-state-have-the-power-to-force-an-abortion/969987 "2022-08-20T12:29:37Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 37

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**Author:** ![slash2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@slash2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slash2k)\
**Post date:** [August 23, 2022, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-state-have-the-power-to-force-an-abortion/969987/37 "2022-08-23T21:10:22Z")

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> [@filmore](#):
>
> Are there any medical procedures which the state can force upon someone?

There was the case of [Cassandra Callender](https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/cassandra-callender-forced-undergo-chemo-dies-22-70682187), a teenager in Connecticut who was forced to undergo chemotherapy. (That case was [discussed here](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/connecticut-can-now-force-a-17-year-old-to-undergo-chemotherapy/709384/108).)

In that case, the court found that even though she was 17, she was not sufficiently mature to make her own medical choices, and her mother had been found unfit, so the guardian was the Connecticut Dept of Children and Families.

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