Parental Notification:
Parental Notification for a Minor’s Abortion is Common Sense

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February 2001

If common sense were an animal, it might have to be placed on the endangered species list, right alongside the Bald Eagle and the Yosemite Toad. Common sense is getting too uncommon. A striking example of illogic and “non-sense” is the current NJ law, which in effect, says to parents, “If your 13-year-old daughter is pregnant, someone from her school (perhaps someone you, Mom and Dad, have never even met) can put her in a vehicle, drive her to an abortion clinic, wait while an abortion is performed and drive her back to school – without you, her parents, knowing anything about it”.

Does that strike you as “non-sense”? Most of us know that the same school is not permitted to dispense a mere aspirin without prior knowledge and consent. Without seeking parental consent, is the school permitted to arrange for a tonsillectomy or knee surgery? Could they give your child Pepto Bismol? Take a field trip? No, there are forms to be filled out and procedures to be followed. Why should abortion be the one exception? It is as if the State has sent the parents the following notice:

Dear Moms and Dads,
We know most of you are capable of making good decisions on behalf of your children. Therefore, we need your consent for everything from Pepto Bismol to inhalers and field trips. However, if your daughter is seeking an abortion, you need not be involved or even aware. We, your State government, will take care of this matter. Your parental rights are temporarily (sort-of) suspended or put in “time out”. After all, we know best. No offense.
Yours Truly,
The State

While this reasoning by the State defies common sense, the good news is that the majority of New Jersey residents (approximately 75%) are in favor of Parental Notification. The other side (i.e., the “Non-Notification” camp) argues that notifying the parents would violate the child’s right to privacy. No, if the parents are not told, it actually violates the child’s right to parental guidance, while also violating both the parents’ “right to know” and the parents’ right to be involved during a time of crisis. After all, the child and her parents will have to live with the impact of the decision for years to come. The State will not.

The Non-Notification group argues that parents might abuse their daughter if they find out she is pregnant. The proposed notification law, however, allows for a waiver of parental notification if it appears that the girl is a risk of such abuse. In any case, the majority of parents are not abusive. The majority, therefore, should not be punished (i.e., kept in the dark) because of the behavior of some who are abusive. Some parents may abuse their child for a poor report card. We would not conclude, therefore, that parents should not be allowed to see report cards.

Whether one is Pro-Choice or Pro-Life, logic and common sense demand that we all be Pro-Notification. There are serious emotional, physical, and social consequences for the young girl regardless of her decision. The State has no business removing parents from the decision-making process.

If we can protect the Bald Eagle and the Yosemite Toad from extinction, we can also protect common sense from being squelched. In this case, it is simple: Parents have the right to know.
The author, Dr. Roy Vogel, is a clinical psychologist and provides
professional advice to the NJ Family
Policy Council.

The NJ Senate hearing scheduled for Thursday, April 12th, is open to the public. You may also call the acting NJ Governor, Donald DiFrancesco, at (908) 322-9347 and let him know how you feel about this issue.
Feb. 2001.

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