13 Year Old Florida Girl Given Permission for Abortion

[Modem Butterfly]

http://www.sptimes.com/2005/05/03/State/Judge_okays_abortion_.shtml

WEST PALM BEACH - A 13-year-old at the center of an abortion fight with the state was given permission Monday to terminate her pregnancy, but it was unclear whether she immediately underwent the procedure.

Attorneys for the girl, known only as L.G. in court papers, said the abortion was scheduled for later Monday. However, the state Department of Children and Families appealed the decision, according to Maxine Williams, one of the teen's attorneys.

SNIP

"Legally speaking, it's not a difficult decision to make," Alvarez was quoted as saying by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. "Morally speaking, it's a very difficult decision for this court to make. ... But I'm not here to make the moral decision. I'm here to make the legal decisions."

"He ruled that she is competent, that she has made a decision and that she has a right to act on that decision," said Howard Simon, executive director of the Florida branch of the American Civil Liberties Union, which helped represent the girl. The judge also declared "her right to act on that decision is also in her best interest," Simon said.

[Divameow77]

1. It's unfortunate she's already 14 weeks along,

I would think that would make it harder on a woman.

[loudestchick]

3. 14 weeks puts her into her second trimester. That means she'll need

a D&C, which usually takes 2 days. That's MUCH harder... requires more anesthesia...and is consequently more dangerous.

And....she's not a woman. She's a young girl.

[Divameow77]

12. You're right,

I can't imagine how it must be for a young girl, it's hard enough on a grown woman.

[Modem Butterfly]

4. Generally speaking, the later the more physically demanding

One of my college roommates had an abortion at 22 weeks. It was physically difficult for her as a 21 year old woman. It took three days, during which we stayed with a friend of ours since we had to drive to Portland to find a place that would perform the procedure. I had to quit the part-time job I'd had at the time, but I got an extension on a couple of papers and a mid-term that I had to miss.

[BurtWorm]

2. How soon before Congress steps in?

:eyes:

[elehhhhna]

5. But I'm not here to make the moral decision. I'm here to make the legal ..

decisions. ATTA BOY!

[AnnInLa]

7. Uh Oh, those activist judges

evidently are supposed to be making "moral" judgements...hmmm, whose morals will they use to judge us?

[Mr.Green93]

6. Why?

isn't someone being charged with rape?

[Modem Butterfly]

10. What does that have to do with her choice?

They can charge, prosecute, sentance and incarcerate someone for rape without forcing this girl to carry her pregnancy to term.

[Divameow77]

13. Do we know what actions

got her in this unfortunate situation? 13 year old girls are having sex with boys too, not only men. She very well could have willingly had sex with another minor, and gotten pregnant.

[AnnInLa]

8. Am wondering how long it will take

for "Christian" defendents to demand to stand trial before a judge or jury of their "Christian" peers.

[smoogatz]

9. The fundies will be throwing a flaming shit-fit

right about now. No doubt they'll make a few death threats against the judge, and Randall Terry will call for Jeb!'s head to be stuck on a pike for not sending the state troopers and the national guard and ROTC and the college Republicans to save the innocent pre-born. I hope they make a huge public stink all over Faux News.

[XOKCowboy]

11. It's already happened..

I read it on CrooksandLiars. They pointed to this story on World o' Crap...

http://blogs.salon.com/0002874/2005/05/01.html#a1661

Randall is now involving himself in the case of "L.G.," the thirteen-year-old girl whom Florida's Department of Children and Families is trying to prevent from getting an abortion.

Here's part of the letter which Terry sent to Jeb Bush (this copy courtesy of the media relations network run by the "culture of life's" Gary McCullough, but it's also been carried by such wingnut sources as MichNews, The Conservative Voice, Christian Underground, and quoted by such major media sources as Newsweek, the Miami Herald, and the Palm Beach Post):

Governor Bush, under no circumstances should LG's baby be killed by abortion. I am begging you to not allow a repeat of the Terry Schindler fiasco, which results in the death of another innocent person.

Who the heck is "Terry Schindler"?

What a prince of a guy...

[Divameow77]

14. I guess since her husband

is a "murderer" she doesn't get to have his name anymore.

[JitterbugPerfume]

15. that poor childis only thirteen

this is heartbreaking on many levels

I hope she is ok

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

16. A sensible adult (in the fuller meaning of the word) finally steps in.

It sounds like the only thing keeping Floriduh from a turning into a sunny version of the Dark Age is some of the judges there.