For Minors, Abortion Easier than Giving Blood
Posted May 8, 2009

Wednesday, Governor Corzine signed into law A3580 / S2513, which allows minors who are 16 years of age to donate blood with parental consent. Specifically, the bill states, "Any person of the age of 16 years may donate blood in any voluntary and noncompensatory blood program with the written consent of at least one parent or the person's legal guardian or other legally responsible adult, as appropriate." It passed the state legislature with overwhelming support.

Ironically, a 16-year old needs to get consent to donate blood, but in New Jersey, children 16, 15, 14, 13 . and younger . need no such permission to have an abortion. In fact, children don't even need to tell their parents that they're having a highly-invasive and potentially dangerous surgical procedure!

In 1999, the New Jersey state legislature passed parental notification legislation, which required a minor either to notify a parent before having an abortion or obtain a court order waiving the requirement that she do so. Note, this law didn't require parental consent but merely parental notification. In response, the ACLU filed a lawsuit to prevent implementation of the new legislation.

ACLU National Reproductive Freedom Project attorney Jennifer Dalven stated, "This law will harm, not help, teens.. While most teens already involve a parent in their decision to have an abortion, some cannot because a parent is abusive, terminally ill, or opposed to abortion.. Those who are forced to notify a parent may be beaten, kicked out of their homes, or forced into motherhood against their will."

"Forced into motherhood against their will"? In other words, the ACLU was afraid that a parent might actually step in and prevent his or her child from making a dangerous medical and emotional decision that could leave her permanently scarred!

Disturbingly, the New Jersey Supreme Court sided with the ACLU and ruled 4-2 that parental notification violated the state constitution and that a child's "right" to an abortion is somehow greater than parental rights. In issuing the ruling, Chief Justice Deborah Poritz stated, "

We acknowledge that the state has a substantial interest in preserving the family and protecting the rights of parents. When weighed against the right of a young woman to make the most personal and intimate decision whether to carry a child to term, however, the insubstantial connection between the notification requirement and the interests expressed by the state is not sufficient.

In 2001, the State Assembly overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment to place parental notification on the ballot, but the Senate failed to pass the measure. 

As of today, young girls can still walk into an abortion clinic without even the knowledge - let alone permission - of a parent or guardian and undergo a major surgical procedure with life-altering implications.

Donating blood leaves a temporary pinprick of a mark on one's skin - having an abortion can leave permanent emotional, psychological, and even physical scars. Yet, New Jersey thinks a child is mature enough to decide the latter on her own while needing consent for the former.

There is something drastically wrong with this picture.

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