La Prensa is a bilingual weekly published by Latinos

Oct. 13, 2006

Proposition 85: Waiting Period and Parental Notification Before Termination of Minor?s Pregnancy.

Should the California Constitution be amended to require notification of the parent or legal guardian of an unemancipated pregnant minor at least 48 hours before performing an abortion?

This is the second time around for this Proposition, Parental Notification was defeated in last year?s special election, but undeterred, this proposition was reintroduced and put on this year?s ballot. Parental notification is a personal issue that is represented by strong arguments for and against. The biggest fear that this Proposition presents is the fear that this Proposition will lead to the old days of when a woman would turn to the back alley abortion doctor.?

This issue is also poignant in those particular cases of incest.

This Proposition makes every effort to alleviate this fear of back alley doctors and provides opportunity for the underage pregnant minor to forgo the Parental Notification in cases of emergency and in cases of incest through the intervention of the courts, which would be through no cost to the young lady. In cases of incest, the courts will turn the information over to the Child Protection Services.

It was our belief last year that the parents deserved the right to at least know that their daughter is facing surgery. This proposition does not deny the young lady the right to an abortion, even if the parents object to the procedure; it only ask that the parents are notified.?

We strongly support the idea of parents knowing what is going on with their young children.

Once again we Support Proposition 85 and recommend a YES Vote.