Abortion rights activists protesting in Tampa, Florida, in July
(Picture: REUTERS)A pregnant 16-year-old is being ‘forced’ to have her baby after a court ruled she is not “sufficiently mature” to decide on an abortion.
The parentless Florida teen applied to waive the need for parental consent for her termination - explaining she “is not ready to have a baby” and is “still in school”.
But her request has been denied at a court of appeal, sparking outrage from abortion rights activists.
It comes after the US Supreme Court overturned the Roe V Wade decision that legalised abortion nationwide - a move that triggered an automatic ban in 13 states and saw millions of women in the country lose the legal right to terminate pregnancies.
Under Florida law, minors must gain parental consent in order to undergo an abortion.
The teen was 10 weeks pregnant when she first applied to waive the need for parental consent.
According to a court filing, she argued she was mature enough to decide upon an abortion, saying she “is not ready to have a baby,” is “still in school,” doesn’t have a job, and that the baby’s father is unable to help her.
She also stated that her “guardian is fine with what [she] wants to do”, says the filing.
The circuit court judge is said to have “displayed concern” for the teen’s predicament.
She saw the matter as a close call, the court document continues, finding the teen “credible” and “open” and showing “at times, that she is stable and mature enough to make this decision”.
The teen showed her understanding of the abortion process, while the court is said to have acknowledged she was “not ready for the emotional, physical, or financial responsibility of raising a child” and “has valid concerns about her ability to raise a child”.
But Escambia County Circuit Court Judge Jennifer J Frydrychowicz ultimately denied her application, adding the court may re-evaluate its decision in future if the teen “adequately articulates her request”.
When the teen appealed the decision this week however, a panel of three judges upheld the decision.
Florida appeals court affirms an order prohibiting a parentless 16-year-old from terminating her pregnancy on the grounds that she has not proved she is mature enough to get an abortion. So the state will force her to have a child instead. https://t.co/1UqnPUErG0 pic.twitter.com/z8uMmAoxub
— Mark Joseph Stern (@mjs_DC) August 16, 2022
The court found she “had not established by clear and convincing evidence that she was sufficiently mature to decide whether to terminate her pregnancy”.
The ruling has sparked outrage from many quarters, with US representative Pramila Jayapal writing on Twitter: “This is the nation post-Roe: A Florida court has decided that a 16-year-old girl isn’t ‘sufficiently mature’ enough to get an abortion, but IS mature enough to be a parent. Codify abortion rights now.”
Florida Democratic Party spokesman Travis Reuther also slammed the decision in a statement to the Independent, saying: “Florida is now forcing a teenager to give birth against her will.”
Speaking to The Daily Beast, healthcare lawyer Harry Nelson described the ruling as “so profoundly wrong, on so many levels”.
“The true believers who think it’s a good thing to require children to have children, that they think this is going to be a net benefit to anyone, are in a delusional place,” he added.
