UK mother challenges child abortion rules
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A British mother launched a legal test case on Tuesday to challenge the “horrifying” practice of young girls having abortions without their parents’ knowledge.
Susan Axon, 50, from Manchester, is contesting a law that allows girls under 16 to receive advice on abortion and sexual health in confidence.
But her appeal was condemned by the Family Planning Association (FPA), which says, if changed, the rule would deter young girls from seeking help on sexual health matters.
“Young people worry a great deal about confidentiality and it is the single most important factor in their decision to visit a health service,” said the FPA’s chief executive Anne Weyman.
“Compulsory parental notification of their visit will drive teenagers away from services and prevent many of them coming forward for help.”
If successful, Axon’s challenge would mean doctors would have to notify parents before they provided information or treatment on any sexual health matter including abortion.
“Her concern ... is that she believes it undermines her role as a parent,” her counsel Philip Havers told the High Court.
“She believes that as a parent she should be involved helping her daughters in their early teenage years making wise decisions as to matters such as contraception and, if it comes to it, abortion.
“She finds the prospect that her daughters could be receiving contraception and abortion without even her knowledge to be horrifying.”
Axon, who has five children including two teenage daughters, said she was taking the action after having an abortion herself 20 years ago.
She said she suffered from guilt, shame and depression for many years afterwards and “to this day she regrets having undergone it”.
The case is scheduled to last three days, after which the judge will reserve his decision in order to give it in writing at a later date.
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