Florida Legislature Passes Bill Requiring Parental Consent for Minors to Have Abortion
Jul 3, 2020
Girls under the age of 18 are now required to receive parental permission before having an abortion under a bill signed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. This legislation prevents a doctor from performing an abortion on a minor unless the doctor has received a notarized, written consent form signed by the minor's parent or legal guardian.
The law comes more than three decades after the Florida Supreme Court struck down a similar parental-consent law in 1989, finding that it violated a right to privacy in the state Constitution. Critics argue that this year’s version is unconstitutional, but backers point out that this bill includes exceptions for medical emergencies and allows the minor to seek a judicial waiver, which were not included in the previous law.
“The serious and irrevocable decision to end a pregnancy involves undergoing a significant medical procedure that results, in many cases, in lifelong emotional and physical impacts," said Senate President Bill Galvano. "The parents of a minor child considering an abortion must be involved in such a substantial and permanent decision.”
Opponents argue that requiring parental consent could endanger teens who may be subject to retribution from angry parents or lead minors who are already scared and ashamed towards illegal abortions.
