Abortion is viewed in varying ways, depending on the person’s beliefs and country of residence. Different jurisdictions have different laws when it comes to getting an abortion, especially when an underage teenager is involved. Usually, parental consent for abortion is required for these girls, but it is not always necessary.
In the United States, parental notification laws vary greatly across the nation. In states such as New York, Washington and Oregon, no parental notification is necessary. In states such as Florida and some Midwestern states, at least one parent must be notified. In most states, especially in the eastern U.S., at least one parent must not only be notified but also consent to the abortion. In states such as Louisiana and North Dakota, both must provide parental consent for abortion.
In Canada, parental consent for abortion is generally not required by the majority of medical clinics. This dedication to protecting the minor’s confidence extends to her entire portfolio of medical information. A parent cannot access this information without the patient providing consent first. Furthermore, the partner cannot veto the girl’s decision to go through with the abortion. Similarly, the United Kingdom has no laws regarding parental notification.
Other countries that do not require parental consent for abortion include South Africa, Sweden, New Zealand, Japan and eastern Australia. In these countries, there are either laws that state parental consent for abortion is unnecessary or there is a total absence of laws mentioning this. This might be taken to mean that there is nothing forcing the underage girl or her doctor to inform either parent before she gets an abortion.
There are countries that do require that a parent be informed. In Spain, 16- and 17-year-old girls must inform her parents unless she comes from an abusive household where the discovery of the news would cause strife. In India, parental consent is always required. In western Australia, girls under 16 must inform a parent. Poland has enacted laws that require parental consent no matter the circumstances or how underage the girl is.
Some countries have some slight variations regarding parental notification and consent. For example, in Greece, an underage is not only required to obtain permission from a parent, she also must obtain written, notarized consent from the parents. On the other hand, France permits a girl younger than 16 to get an abortion without informing her parents, but she must bring an adult with her to the procedure.