In its policy statement in 1996, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) reaffirmed its position that the rights of adolescents to confidential medical care when considering an abortion should be protected (Adolescents', 1996, 784). The AAP recommended that adolescents be strongly encouraged to have their parents and other trusted adults involved in decisions regarding abortions, but that the minor's decisions to involve parents should be determined by the quality of the family relationship, and not by the law. AAP said that physicians should adhere to existing professional ethics and standards for obtaining meaningful informed consent, and ensure the patient is fully informed on the issues involved. The patient's right to decide who should be involved and the outcome of the pregnancy should be respected. This approach is most consistent with the ethical, legal and medical care principles.
In many states, teens under age 18 have the right to medical care without their parents' or guardian's knowledge or consent (Parental, 2005). Most states permit a teen mother to put her child up for adoption without her parents' permission or knowledge. Laws vary from state to state in the US, but there is a general consensus that a single teen with an unwanted pregnancy should seek the support of her parents. In this case, the teen is only 15, does not feel able to take care of a child, and the father of the child does not want to be involved. From her standpoint, she has two choices: adoption or an abortion. She is obviously afraid to tell her parents because of their attitude towards sex, but really needs their help and support. She needs to talk to someone she trusts and feels close to, who will support her in whatever decision she makes, and she probably feels very much alone and very afraid. She knows her parents will be shocked and angry, and is afraid of their reaction when she tells them. She feels trapped and does not know...