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CWA on Ayotte v. Planned Parenthood: Abortionists Are No Substitute for Parents 11/28/2005 Washington, D.C.—Concerned Women for America (CWA) gives its wholehearted support to New Hampshire’s parental notification law being challenged in the U.S. Supreme Court this Wednesday. CWA joined in an amicus brief by Christian Legal Society explaining that Planned Parenthood’s arguments against the law are without medical merit, and the best medical interest of minors is served by their parent’s involvement in this life-changing decision.
“New Hampshire’s parental notification law would save teenagers from having to face a life-altering decision in secret, separated from their parents by abortionists who profit only if they choose to end their child’s life,” said Wendy Wright, CWA’s executive vice president.
“Parental notification and consent laws are wildly popular with Americans, with polls showing support at 70 to 80 percent. Parents have their daughter’s best interest at heart, know her medical history and are critical for follow-up care, especially when a girl suffers complications from an abortion.”
The New Hampshire law is modeled after Minnesota’s, which has no health exception, was upheld as constitutional by the United States Supreme Court, and has been in effect for over 20 years with no reported health emergencies suffered by Minnesota teens. Similarly North Dakota, a state with the lowest teen pregnancy rate in the country, has had a parental-consent law with no health exception since 1981 with no reported harm to teens in that state.
“While abortionists claim that a medical emergency would require committing an abortion on a minor without her parent’s knowledge, none of the plaintiffs in this case claim to have ever treated a minor suffering from a medical condition that necessitated an emergency abortion,” said Wendy Wright. “And yet they convinced lower courts that the entire law must be thrown out on this specious claim. We expect that the Supreme Court will look at the medical evidence as well as the legal reasoning, will respect the role of parents in knowing and caring for their daughters, and uphold New Hampshire’s parental notification law.”
For Information Contact: Valerie Mosher (202) 488-7000 media.cwfa.org |