In California, a girl under age 18 can’t get a tan at a tanning salon, a cavity filled, or an aspirin dispensed by the school nurse without a parent knowing. But a doctor can perform a surgical or chemical abortion on a young girl without informing a parent.
Proposition 4 will require a doctor to notify at least one adult family member before performing an abortion on an under-18-year-old girl.
Medical professionals know that a young person is safer when a parent or family member is informed of her medical situation. Someone who knows the girl and cares about her future can help her understand all her options, obtain competent care, and work through the problems that led her into the situation to begin with. On a daily basis, older men exploit young girls and use secret abortions to cover up their crimes. More than thirty states currently have parental/family involvement laws like Proposition 4 in effect. States which have laws like Proposition 4 have experienced real reductions in pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases among young girls.
"A father in California came home unexpectedly early from work one day to find his 15-year-old daughter had tried to commit suicide by drug overdose... (More)
Click here to listen to the responses of over 90 California abortion centers to phone caller seeking underage abortion.
These tapes provide compelling evidence that California needs Sarah's Law. More)
Parental Involvement Laws - State by state
Yes on 4 endorsement from AUL, BDF and FRC
Analyzing the effect of state legislation on the incidence of abortion among minors. Michael J. New, PH.D.
Sexually Transmitted Infections Among California Youth: Estimated Incidence and Direct Medical Cost, 2005
Letter re illegal use of University of California resources
What's different “Insanity is doing the same thing in the same way, expecting a different result.” --Chinese proverb.
Unsupported Claims Useful information on how to spot false or unsupported claims in your coverage of the parental notification debate.
US Teen Pregnancy Statistics. (September, 2006; PDF only).
Parental Involvement in Minor's Abortion Decisions. (Sept/Oct, 1992; PDF only).
Testimony of Prof. Teresa Collett in behalf of Parents’ Right to Know legislation to the U.S. House of Representatives July 15, 2004. (Printable PDF version.)
Becket Fund letter about political activity on church property. (Apr. 29, 2003; PDF only).
Transporting Minors for Immoral Purposes: The Case for the Child Custody Protection Act and the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act (article by Teresa S. Collett reprinted from Health Matrix Jan. 9, 2006.) PDF version.
Court Testimony of Molestation of Disabled Teen Resulting in 2 Abortions Concealed from her Parents (PDF). Amicus is Harlon Reeves, individually, and as Next Friend of his minor daughter. Mr. Reeves resides in Texas and is the father of two daughters. One of his daughters, a girl who is mentally challenged, was the unfortunate victim of a child predator when she was only 12 and 13 years of age.
New academic study shows positive results of parental involvement laws in protecting young girls from dangerous sexual activity (PDF) The researchers found that teen gonorrhea rates dropped by an average of 20 percent for Hispanic girls and 12 percent for white girls in states where parental notification laws were in effect.
Tanning Salons now require Parental Consent via AB 105