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Abortion rights groups have steadfastly opposed so-called parental notification or consent laws. They say that girls too frightened
to tell their parents that they are pregnant will be endangered by waiting too long to seek an abortion or by seeking an illegal
and riskier procedure. This website will summarize the evidence on adolescent pregnancy that supports this postition that
mandatory parental involvement legislation is beneficial for the adolescent, her family, and her family unity.
A majority of the states have enacted legislation calling for mandatory parental involvement in some form prior to a
minor's getting an abortion. Due to procedural difficulties though, more than half of them are not currently in effect.
The number of adolescents to whom this law would apply is limited. Over half of the adolescents already involve their
parents in decision making about an abortion. The important question, then, is whether adolescents who ordinarily would abort
without or before consulting their parents would be helped or harmed by requiring parental involvement.
Acknowledement of an adolescent's decision about her pregnancy is obvious, but not so obvious are the other individuals,
such as parents, who also have a responsibility. Most pregnant adolescents and their families will benefit from mandatory
parental involvement in decisions regarding abortion versus having the child.
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