Teen sues parents for trying to force her to abort

[ccgr]

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/02/13/te ... -abortion/

[Blue]

It's great that she's standing up for herself, but to sue your parents? That's a bit too far in my opinion. Aren't there other options?

[ccgr]

I think legal protection is justified but alienating your parents in the process makes it harder without their support. No free babysitting...

[ArchAngel]

Geez, parents, I couldn't think of a handlier way of making enemies on the pro-life and pro-choice side.

[Truthseeker]

It's great that she's standing up for herself, but to sue your parents? That's a bit too far in my opinion. Aren't there other options?

From the context of the article it does not seem like the daughter is seeking money damages. It sounds like the only thing she is seeking is a legal order from a judge saying that her parents cannot force her to have an abortion against her will. In fact, the title of this thread is misleading. It should say "teen sues parents to prevent them from forcing her to abort."

The parents are the only villains in this story, whether you're pro-life or pro-choice. Pro-choice people are pro-choice. Forcing someone to abort is outrageous.

[ArcticFox]

I can't help but wonder what the parents' motives are... I mean, is it just that they don't want to deal with a grandchild? Is it that they're afraid of the impact on their daughter's education as a result of her becoming a mother? I think we can rule out the "it'll ruin the family's reputation" motive, since they've done a far better job of that themselves... And I think we can rule out any conservative Christian motive regarding a baby out of wedlock (This is Texas, after all) as I suspect abortion isn't what I'd call the ideal solution there...

Maybe dad's a control freak. I dunno. Just can't help but be curious.

[ArchAngel]

I don't think we can rule out reputation. They didn't know their daughter would go public with it, they thought it was all behind closed doors. People will certainly do very reputation-damaging actions in private in order to preserve their public reputation. I'd lean against the conservative christian motivation, being how abortion is very frowned upon and mostly accepted as wrong. Not saying they weren't conservative Christians themselves, which they could be but acting on motivations of pride or control (don't want the neighbors to think you were a bunch of sinners). It's more than possibile, also, that they think they're doing what's best by keeping their daughter from becoming a single mother, and by "thinking," I mean "rash, knee jerk response." Parents can do not only silly things, but drastically harmful and immoral things out of fear and "caring".

The things that they said were chilling to the bone. Even if their motivations ended up being about fear for the well being of their daughter, you don't get to say and do those things and walk out as a good person.

[ArcticFox]

True... The part that blew my mind the most was the threat to secretly administer an "abortion pill." There's your candidate for Mother of the Year. "I'm going to administer a chemical that absolutely guarantees a trip to the ER, massive emotional trauma and if we're very lucky, no physical side effects, all for your own good, sweetheart!"

[ArchAngel]

Yeah, right?

[ccgr]

looks like she won (and is planning on marrying the father)

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/02/19/te ... g-parents/

[Bruce_Campbell]

Good for her!