# Parents have no rights? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 11, 2003, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-have-no-rights/187684 "2003-07-11T11:42:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Eilsel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c68b51/32.png) [@Eilsel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eilsel)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2003, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-have-no-rights/187684/101 "2003-07-13T00:03:49Z")
You know, there are lots of ways to get around things… But I’m not going to argue this any more. I am standing by my position which may not be a popular one but it’s mine. ---
**Author:** ![Nightime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Nightime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightime)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2003, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-have-no-rights/187684/102 "2003-07-13T00:10:44Z")
> [@](#): > > You know, there are lots of ways to get around things… _shiver_ ---
**Author:** ![Aholibah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Aholibah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aholibah)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2003, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-have-no-rights/187684/103 "2003-07-13T04:43:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ivylass \* > \*\*My issue, as I will state one last time, is not one of forcing my child to have an abortion or a baby. The issue is being taken out of the decision-making process when it comes to the welfare of my minor child. It is entirely possible her father and I will agree with whatever decision she makes. However, the state has ruled that we not be consulted. > > And since we, not the state, have the responsibility of raising our children to be contributing members of society, I find their decision incredibly high-handed and arrogant.\*\* (underlining mine) Just feel the need to point out yet again that the state has not ruled that your daughter cannot consult you, but that the state will not force her to consult you. You can continue to treat this distinction as hair-splitting, but I see a world of difference between what you characterize the state’s ruling to be and what the state’s ruling actually is. To me, high-handed would be the state arrogating to itself the authority to force your daughter to consult you. Taking itself out of the process seems to me to be the very opposite of high-handed and arrogant. And I’ll second that _shiver_, **Nightime**. ---
**Author:** ![Waenara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@Waenara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waenara)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2003, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-have-no-rights/187684/104 "2003-07-13T09:33:14Z")
I think that giving control over reproductive decisions to the teenage girl is the correct path. There are many wonderful, supportive families out there. But there are many who aren’t. The state has to take measures to protect those people. I think that even if the girl comes from a loving family who will support her decision - whatever that is - she should still have the right not to consult them when making her decision. It is _her_ body, her life and her decision. Ideally she would choose to discuss the situation with her parents, but she is not obligated to do so. I think that **StarvingButStrong** ’s point on the last page was very pertinent: > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by StarvingButStrong_ > \*\*I just had a really weird thought: say the parent DOES have total control over the child until age 18, no exceptions. > > So say a girl gets pregnant and gives birth at age 16. She would have to have parental permission for her postpartum checkups, right? > > At the same time, though, _SHE_ is the parent of her child, and thus has total say over what happens to it, right? > > How can someone be simultaneously unable to decide about their own medical care and completely empowered to decide about the care of another?\*\* IIRC, girls who become parents are automatically emancipated minors. Regardless of their age. They then have the full legal priviledges and responsibilities of an adult. A 13 year old who becomes pregnant and decides not to abort is granted adult status and the legal ability to make adult decisions as soon as the baby is born. So the law is saying that even though she’s only 13 or 14 she is able to make these decisions - due to carrying a child. But just 9 months before, some people would say that she doesn’t have the right to decide to abort or not. This is ludicrous. If you can make adult decisions once you have a child, then you should be able to make an adult decision on whether or not you have the child in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![Eilsel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c68b51/32.png) [@Eilsel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eilsel)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2003, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-have-no-rights/187684/105 "2003-07-13T11:12:05Z")
LOL no need to shiver, I was merely pointing out that it doesn’t really matter because, like I said, there are ways of getting around things. Quiet honestly I have my position now, but I have no idea what I’d do if it, heaven forbid, happened to me. That’s why I pray, and pray hard, that the Lord will give me guidance and discernment in raising my children and handling their problems. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-have-no-rights/187684.md?page=5)