The mother of a Ballard High School student is furious over her claim that the school helped her daughter seek an abortion, but the King County Public Health Department says the service was outlined in a consent form.
Admitting she signed a form, the mother told KOMO-TV she figured services provided by the Ballard Teen Health Center included treatment for stomach viruses or even birth control, but not the termination of a pregnancy.
The student’s mother, who wishes to remain unidentified, said her daughter was given a pregnancy test at the school’s health center and then the school provided her with the time and transportation to a clinic, during school hours, to have an abortion.
“The form describes what the parent is consenting to, but also illustrates what a youth may independently consent to,” T.J. Cosgrove, King County Public Health Department Manager for School Based Programs, told KIRO Radio’s Dave Ross Wednesday.
Cosgrove read the consent form to Ross: “Youth may independently access reproductive health care at any age. They may independently receive drug and alcohol services and mental health counseling from age 13.”
The form doesn’t specifically list “abortion” and Cosgrove said it would be impossible to list all of the services, treatment options, and diagnostic procedures associated with pregnancy.
“I think there’s room on the form to list one or two conditions, but I think limiting it to one or two conditions is probably not practical.”
Cosgrove added that ultimately, the student could have gone out on her own to seek these services after school and they “encourage people to have that conversation with their kids.”
What if the sex was not by consent? She could have been molested and was being instructed or forced by the culprit to terminate without her parents’ knowledge. Parents ought to know what the State and school clinics are doing to their children, right?
In her state, Washington, Planned Parenthood can do abortions on Minors without the parent’s permission. If a daughter needs permission to get an abortion, does she need a permission slip to have sex, what about contraceptives, what about buying a condom at a store? Oh she’s mature enough to use contraception and buy condoms and have sex, but she’s somehow immature to have an abortion? Does she need permission to continue her pregnancy? Where do you draw the line legally?
@xinecallaw Some parent you’ll be.
If I sign a form, I read it before signing. I don’t glimpse shit over. Mom shoulda read shit better.
Really Washington? What other states have that right? I’m curious….
While the law says parents don’t have to be involved in a decision to have an abortion, they most certainly will be involved if something goes wrong during that abortion and further medical treatment is needed. At that point, parents will be billed for medical expenses amounting to thousands or more, while the “clinic” quickly packs up and disappears. In the meantime, that compulsory school will be waving the medical waver parents were required to sign.
abortion to all teens
this is why i only kept the male children
Your rights?? How about THE daughters rights? You DONT need to tell your mother anything. If she can have sex then she is old enough to have an abortion without her mothers permission.
@xinecallaw Good for you, I’m glad you’ll most likely never be the mother of my children.
@MaxBemisingod Really, and if there is complications with the procedure that then requires emergency surgery, long term treatment, or permanent damage that prevents her from getting pregnant in the future. Complications the kid doesnt understand or realize are possible, because a bunch of unethical rejects will say anything to assure a child its 100% safe. If I was the mother, I would disown the little bitch and drop her off at that clinic with note saying ‘All yours’
wtf its the girls choice and if her momns a bitch why not lie about it
This was an incredibly kind and selfless act on the schools part considering the ridicule they received during the few months this made national headlines. I am honored to attend a high school that believes and actively participates in the development of student intellect.
As a Ballard High School senior I can tell you that the Teen Health Center contract which you (the parent), DON’T HAVE TO SIGN, clearly states that the school has a strong student-school privacy contract that should be understood and respected by the parent(s) and student who are signing the contract. Also, as it was previously stated the school did not give the abortion, they only laid out the facts in front of the girl so she could decide on what to do with her situation.
This is such a typical one-sided view of a situation that had been thought over carefully by many people working in Ballard High School’s Teen Health Center. The mother of this girl should know if she is sexually active and talk with her about the risks of unprotected sex.
sweet so you can sexting and be whores and NOW you can get ABORTIONS at highschool? fuck hs must be cake nowadays
@MaxBemisingod exactly
@AxisSalley He child’s health care has nothing to do with her child’s right to an Abortion. ANY woman can get an abortion and she only needs her own consent to do so. If this girl didn’t feel comfortable telling her parents that she was pregnant and was getting an abortion but she felt comfortable getting help from the school clinic then so be it. Her mother doesn’t have a say in it either way.
@HybridSoldier629 Really parents have no right to their childs health care?
Stupid, stupid people. Go ahead and sterilize the girl too. Fucking idiots don’t have the right to reproduce.
“Signing this paper makes me feel like my rights were stripped away.”
What rights?! She wasn’t pregnant, her daughter was. I don’t usually take a side in pro-life/pro-choice matters but in this situation i’ll make an exemption.
@aeroldoth shame cause its worse than wrong
@aeroldoth very beleivable u r .its true what the christains say the end is near then it will b to late for u a goat no substance
usa peice of shit wont b much longer
@krisj58 you are lost a goat u r