Also, please provide me statistics you mentioned if you have them. Sick as it is and as much as I don't like to believe this abuse goes on, it is a sad fact that many minors are in fact abused by adults. Lets work together to reduce that number.

I never said there was a law against asking who a teenagers partner is. However, they are under no obligation to provide that information. Are you under the impression that "most" teenagers seeking abortive services have been abused? If so, I don't believe statistics will support that conclusion.

We don't need to mandate anything or pass any laws to ask minors how they got pregnant. And there is NO law preventing us from asking them questions about the circumstances that put them in this sorry situation. It is just common sense to ask a pregnant minor who got them pregnant. It is a very logical and efective way to get abused kids out of abusive situations and we need to care enough to stop the abuse. We owe it to our children to understand that they are not "adults" and if they get into trouble they should not be treated in the same fashion as adults. Asking a minor how she got into such a deplorable situation is our best, and often the only way to rescue a minor from an abusivive situation. That is all part of competent medical care to minors who are going through an abortion. Keep youeye on the goal here…. To help the minor through her troubles and to take as many abusers as possible off the streets.

I agree, however, parental notification WILL NOT accomplish this.

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Paul2 stated: "We both agree that Parental Notification would help without question in the cases where the parent is not the abuser (this is the vast majority of cases)."

No, we DO NOT agree on this either. Again, I believe parental knowledge and support helps. However, if a teenager cannot discuss this issue with her parent I don't think it helps to insist that she do so. I blame the parent for this — not the teenager. This is why it is so important to cultivate a good relationship with one's children.

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Paul2 stated: "The minor also needs to know there is help for her if the parent is the abuser. And in the cases with abusive parents it is just as important for the minor to be encoyraged to speak up if she is being molested by a parent so she can be removed from the abusive household. So I fail to see how you reason that getting an abused minor to inform somebody about an abusive parent would be bad thing."

I don't think it's a bad thing. And if it appears that a minor is being abused all of her options are explained and she is encouraged to seek help AND is offered much assistance in doing so. However, correct me if I'm wrong, but it appears to me that what you're looking for is mandating that a teenager give that information. I'm sorry, but that is not the law at this time.

Let me rephrase as I think you're looking past what I'm trying to say. It does nothing to further her "medical" care. And, as I've told you a couple of times now, she is not obligated to give that information and, if given, PP is prohibited by law from discussing it with anyone without her permission.

I do think it helpful to discuss it during counseling — especially to avoid ending up with an unintended pregnancy in the future.

That is just flat out wrong. Understanding the ircumstances that put the minor in this dreadful position in the first place is an absolutely essential part of her care. Do you really not see that?

Jerry N stated: "Student, I will take your word for it that Reagan's autobiography may not have mentioned abortion even once in 700 pages, but if the reason you know that is because you read his book I hope you found his life story inspiring."

I have a penchant for poltical biographies and autobiographies. Believe it or not, I actually enjoyed 'The Supreme Court' by William Rehnquist.

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Jerry N stated: "By the way, as long as we are talking about legalized abortion, the Constitution does not mention the word "abortion" or phrase "right to abortion" a single time."

I agree. It also doesn't mention the right to marry, the right to drive a car, the right to color my hair, the right to have your appendix removed, etc.

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Jerry N stated: "Also, FYI it is not all that difficult to get pro-lifers elected to office. It happens all the time."

You are correct and I apologize for my mis-statement. There are PLs elected to office. However, they aren't in the majority and there isn't enough will among the populace to put people there who will change the law in the manner in which, I assume, you'd like.

Paul2 stated: "We found some common ground. Neither of us thinks abortion should be marketed as glamorous. We both agree that it is completely against human nature to be "for" abortion. We both strongly believe that if a minor is seeking an abortion it is her best interset to have her parents notified."

I agree with "most" of what you said but, again, you're putting words in my mouth. I never said I believe it is in the best interest to notify parents. I do believe it is in a minor's best interests to have the knowledge and support of her parents. Unfortunately, in many families the relationship isn't such to allow this. In my mind, that is the fault of the parent — not the teenager.

Paul2 stated: "Who got someone pregnant is not medical information and is no way protected as medical information. But who got thm pregnant is important to know in order for the minor to get complete care. It is not ridiculous at all to ask them who got them pregnant."

The fact that someone is even seeking medical attention at all is PHI (protected healthcare information). Knowing the name, age, etc. of a teenagers partner does nothing to further her medical care. However, counseling at PP does attempt to assess whether or not there are any emotional problems that need to be addressed and counseling is offered. If abuse is suspected, women are strongly encouraged to contact the authorities and are offered assistance to do so. However, whether or not anyone shares that information with PP staff is strictly up to them. Furthermore, if the information is offered there is no way to guage the accuracy of the information given.

Paul2 stated: It is "known to be extremely difficult for minors to come forward when they are abused."

This is yet another reason I think parental notification is a bad idea. What do you do with a teenager who is being abused at home? Do you want her potential abuser notified?

If I have failed to address anything else you brought up, it is an error of ommission — I'm not trying to dodge issues. I do enjoy discussing differing opinions (when it can be done respectfully) as I think there are things both sides can learn from the other.