Hell, Michele - don't you know you don't even have to leave the school grounds? Just pop up to the nurse and take an RU486 pill and save the costs of the transport to the clinic!
I'll never forget my first field trip to the sex clinic. I got to sit next to Andy Minott during the "Rainbow Parties and You" presentation, and I dreamed of the day (later in the semester) we could abort our an unborn lust-child on America's dollar.
Then I threw up from a bad baloney sandwhich on the bus ride home.
'Sup, Michele Bachmann. I got an abortion when I was sixteen, and I ditched an ENTIRE DAY OF CLASS for it. Are you scandalized? I hope so. And I went back to school that evening to go home, and I was TOTALLY on VICODIN. I was ON DRUGS on a SCHOOL CAMPUS. The shame, the horror! And you know what's awesome? I graduated on schedule the year after, with no children. I'm the sort of hellbound slut confidentiality clauses are protecting. Oh, and the government paid for my abortion. Thanks, taxpayers.
I barely have time to get a sandwich on MY lunch break, and I'm a grown woman with a driver's license.
Who are these thirteen year girls who can get pregnancy tests at the sex clinics and abortions at the Planned Parenthoods, all in the span of an hour?? And why aren't they my personal assistants?
My school wouldn't have let me off the premises even if I were simultaneously having a stroke and explosive diarrhea if I didn't have a note from my mom. School districts are cancelling bus routes... I doubt there's going to be a PP shuttle from your local middle school.
I heard a rumor during the election that people were sending $1 donations in Sarah Palin's name to Planned Parenthood. Maybe it's time to start that up with this whack-a-do as well.
The thing (ok, one of the many things) I think she's missing though, is that when you go in for an abortion, you don't just walk in and get a pill or throw your feet into the stirrups and voila! You're not pregnant any more!
They actually have counseling to help you talk and think through through your options and what is best for you - at least that's what the PP here does. I'm assuming they do it at all of them - correct me if I'm wrong, please. It's not comparable with a 13 year old sneaking outside at lunch to the local McDonald's.
I'm sorry, this is probably making no sense, but I'm having a bad day, so there's that :)
If your daughter can get pregnant and get an abortion without you having even a smidge of an idea that something is off, perhaps you aren't the best parent in the world. Parents don't need to be psychic mind readers who always know exactly what's going on at all time, but if a child of that age is that concerned about telling anyone she's having those sorts of major issues and get away with it without her parents at least thinking she's being bullied at school or SOMETHING random, home probably isn't a nice cozy nest of communication.
I'd rather have a girl that comfortable with getting an abortion and capable of dealing with it (so calm and collected that her parents don't even think anything is wrong? That's pretty calm for a damn 13 year old.) get one than be forced to carry to term and go through labor.
Whoah whoah whoah wait...local sex clinic is different from Planned Parenthood? I have no interest in getting an abortion, because that's what they do at PP, they'll give me one before I can even tell them my name and read my Highlights magazine. What's this local sex clinic? Do hot guys work there? I need to pull up yellowpages.com for this....
@wednesdayam: As a Minnesotan, can I just say: so, so sorry. I don't understand either. Woodbury is just some crappy suburb with an outlet mall and there's really nothing of note in her district but geez y'all really messed that one up.
@cnphair: NO NO NO YOU CAN'T TALK TO GIRLS ABOUT SEX CUZ THEN THEY WILL JUST DO IIIITTT AND LIKE IT AND THEN THEY WON'T BE PRETTY INNOCENT VIRGINS FOR THE MEN FOLK TO WED NOOOOO NOOO NOOO
I'm not sure exactly what she's talking about here (or if she does either) but I am pretty sure I wouldn't get behind legislation that allowed any medical provider to keep a juvenile patient's records confidential from that child's parents.
If my 13 year-old child goes to a doctor - even if all they do is take her blood pressure and give her a lollipop - I need to know what's going on.
@MizJenkins: That's a good point, but most teenagers who would go to the doctor without their parents' knowledge or consent have a good reason to do so. Many-- not all, but many-- of the minors who would need to keep an abortion or birth control pills secret from their parents would do so precisely because their parents would kick them out of the house or beat them if they found out. I don't know the text of the confidentiality clause, but I think might make be OK if, for example, the teenager was required to explain the danger of parental notification in her particular situation.
@MizJenkins: Hopefully your 13 year old would tell you what was going on willingly. But, imagine for a minute that for whatever reason, they really genuinely don't feel they can. Imagine they feel that way to the degree that if they thought you might find out about, they would rather ignore the problem and hoped it went away and let whatever else happen to them just to avoid you finding out. Would you rather there be a place where they could get the help they need, no questions asked, or that they let their health and mental state deteriorate irreparably?
@MizJenkins: Also, what if the parent is the problem? I'd rather have an abused kid who isn't ready to tell on their parent yet get medical help than walk around with untreated injuries because they know their doctor will call home
I think that's fair and logical as long as the argument is based on legal fact and parental consent rights, not fear mongering extremes like Bachmann is using.
It my understanding that currently 13-year-olds can only get an abortion with parental consent OR permission from a judge after proving why they cannot get parental consent/tell their parents. Could someone tell me if I am mistaken or if there is a state where this does not apply?
@MizJenkins: On the one hand, and I don't have any kids, the thought of my future children feeling that they couldn't come to me with something -- ANYTHING -- horrifies me. I hope that I am the kind of parent who can be there, if they get pregnant and want an abortion (or don't want one), get an STI, have an abusive boyfriend/girlfriend, and not judge them, but support them. I don't like the idea that they could skip the step of talking to me, or their father, or both of us, and just go take care of it themselves. Especially when there are things they might needs some kind of support with.
On the other hand, I'm confident that I will be that kind of parent. And I'm aware that not every other kid in the world has the kind of parents that I strive to be. I think that legislation needs to be in place to protect THOSE kids, the ones who no adults are looking out for. They shouldn't have to suffer because I'm afraid of how it might affect how the relationship between my kids and I plays out. If their parents aren't taking care of them, someone needs to have their best interests at heart.
@MizJenkins: My family was far from abusive, but if I'd told them I was on the pill, I'd never have been able to leave my house again. No sports teams, going to movies with friends, nothing. Of course, the fact that I was on the pill because my cramps were so bad I missed school would be irrelevant to them. An abortion would be out of the question. People phrase this in terms of "omg what about abusive parents" but it would really mean is that if I'd been having sex and needed an abortion, but my doctor had to tell my parents about it, I would probably have a 9 year old kid right now. Fun!
Just because you're a rational parent doesn't mean everyone is!
@MizJenkins: The sexual health clinic (in Canada) where I get my paps done and used to get my BCP prescriptions gives you the option of keeping your medical records confidential from both your parents and your regular family doctor. Obviously, the best case scenario is when a young woman can tell everyone, including her GP and her legal guardians, about her full medical history. But there are many reasons why many young women cannot. I have my records fowarded to my GP, who writes my BCP scripts, but I used to keep them confidential when I was still a teenager and I had my reasons for doing so. Having the option of receiving sexual health services confidentially - including exams, STI testing, pregnancy testing and contraception - is part of the whole autonomy package.
@all: I understand that there are some parents who are unfit, but in most cases a court or some other authority has to rule you unfit before strangers are allowed to infere with your parental rights and help your children circumvent your authority.
But then, I am not a person who believes that minor children are entitled to many privacy rights.
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Then I threw up from a bad baloney sandwhich on the bus ride home.
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Who are these thirteen year girls who can get pregnancy tests at the sex clinics and abortions at the Planned Parenthoods, all in the span of an hour?? And why aren't they my personal assistants?
10/01/09
Toot toot! All aboard the abortion express!
Rep. Bachmann -
STFU, crazy person.
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The thing (ok, one of the many things) I think she's missing though, is that when you go in for an abortion, you don't just walk in and get a pill or throw your feet into the stirrups and voila! You're not pregnant any more!
They actually have counseling to help you talk and think through through your options and what is best for you - at least that's what the PP here does. I'm assuming they do it at all of them - correct me if I'm wrong, please. It's not comparable with a 13 year old sneaking outside at lunch to the local McDonald's.
I'm sorry, this is probably making no sense, but I'm having a bad day, so there's that :)
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I'd rather have a girl that comfortable with getting an abortion and capable of dealing with it (so calm and collected that her parents don't even think anything is wrong? That's pretty calm for a damn 13 year old.) get one than be forced to carry to term and go through labor.
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Why did you do this to us, Minnesota? We love you guys down here! Why??
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Don't understand your state at all, man.
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And I was pointing out how MN has a history of electing AWESOME people, and I don't understand how on earth Michelle Bachman is also from there.
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But that would be a practical social policy, and goodness knows, her constituents don't look upon such things favorably.
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If my 13 year-old child goes to a doctor - even if all they do is take her blood pressure and give her a lollipop - I need to know what's going on.
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I think that's fair and logical as long as the argument is based on legal fact and parental consent rights, not fear mongering extremes like Bachmann is using.
It my understanding that currently 13-year-olds can only get an abortion with parental consent OR permission from a judge after proving why they cannot get parental consent/tell their parents. Could someone tell me if I am mistaken or if there is a state where this does not apply?
10/01/09
21 states explicitly allow minors to consent to confidential contraceptive services
25 states permit it in certain instances
Even when a state doesn't explicitly permit it, doctors are able to provide confidential care if they feel it's in the best interest of the patient.
Most states allow minors to consent to prenatal care confidentially if pregnant.
All 50 states allow minors to consent to confidential STI testing and services.
This is pretty mainstream stuff.
[www.guttmacher.org]
10/01/09
On the other hand, I'm confident that I will be that kind of parent. And I'm aware that not every other kid in the world has the kind of parents that I strive to be. I think that legislation needs to be in place to protect THOSE kids, the ones who no adults are looking out for. They shouldn't have to suffer because I'm afraid of how it might affect how the relationship between my kids and I plays out. If their parents aren't taking care of them, someone needs to have their best interests at heart.
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Just because you're a rational parent doesn't mean everyone is!
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But then, I am not a person who believes that minor children are entitled to many privacy rights.