Pregnancy, Teenagers and the Law, 1974

AN ANALYSIS OF LAWS BASED IN LARGE PART ON STATUTES, DECISIONS, & ATTORNEY'S GENERAL OPINIONS WHICH HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN FAMILY PLANNING POPULATION REPORTER, A BIMONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE CENTER FOR FAMILY PLANNING PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT IS PRESENTED. THE PAST 5 YEARS HAVE SEEN A MARKED EXPANSION OF TEENAGERS' RIGHT TO CONSENT FOR THEIR OWN MEDICAL & SURGICAL TREATMENT, ESPECIALLY CONTRACEPTION, ABORTION, VD TREATMENT, & ALL PREGNANCY-RELATED HEALTH SERVICES. THE RIGHT OF 18-YEAR-OLDS TO CONSENT FOR THESE SERVICES HAS BEEN CONFIRMED IN MOST STATES, LARGELY DUE TO REDUCTION IN THE AGE OF MAJORITY TO 18 IN 40 STATES. THE RIGHTS OF MINORS UNDER 18 TO CONSENT TO THEIR OWN CARE IN VD, BIRTH CONTROL, & PREGNANCY HAVE BEEN EXPANDED, ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE CONSIDERED 'MATURE' ENOUGH TO UNDERSTAND THE NATURE & CONSEQUENCES OF THE TREATMENT. WITH RESPECT TO ABORTION, THE TREND IS NOT SO CLEAR; SEVERAL STATES HAVE PROHIBITORY LAWS FOR MINORS WITHOUT PARENTAL CONSENT. SOME OF THESE LAWS HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFULLY CHALLENGED IN THE COURTS, & "IT APPEARS LIKELY THAT A MATURE MINOR'S RIGHT TO ABORTION WITHOUT PARENTAL CONSENT WILL BE SUSTAINED AS A MATTER OF CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT." 1 TABLE. MODIFIED HA.