Pregnant teen isn't'mature' enough for abortion, according to twisted Florida ruling.
A Florida appeals court will force a parentless 16-year-old girl to give birth because the teen is not “sufficiently mature” to decide for herself whether or not to terminate the pregnancy.
Previously, a circuit court judge denied the girl's request to waive a state law requiring minors to obtain parental consent for abortions. A three-judge panel upheld the decision on Monday.
According to the appellate ruling, the unnamed teen is obtaining a GED through a programme for young people who have experienced traumatic events in their lives.
The girl, who lives with a relative and has an appointed guardian, argued in her petition that she is "still in school" and "is not ready to have a baby," her guardian is "fine with what wants to do."
She met with Escambia County Circuit Court Judge Jennifer J. Frydrychowicz, a case worker, and a child advocate, among others.
The ruling states that she "inexplicably" did not request a lawyer who would have represented her for free.
It says the girl was 10 weeks pregnant at the time, but does not provide a specific timeline that would indicate how far along she would be now.
She was “knowledgeable” about what was involved with terminating a pregnancy, and had done Google searches and read a pamphlet given to her at a medical clinic, the ruling notes.
It also says the teen “acknowledges she is not ready for the emotional, physical, or financial responsibility of raising a child,” and “has valid concerns about her ability to raise a child.”