British Woman Advocating Abortion Notification Has Pregnant Daughter

National   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Nov 10, 2005   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
November 10, 2005

London, England (LifeNews.com) — A British woman who has taken her case to have British law changed to allow for parental notification before a teenager can have an abortion has a vested interest in the outcome. One of her teen daughters is pregnant.

Sue Axon, 51, is asking the High Court to review Department of Health guidelines which do not allow parents to know about the fact that their daughter may be having an abortion.

A year ago when Axon launched the case, she said her own daughters were not considering an abortion but she was bringing it on behalf of parents as "a matter of principle." As she arrived at court today for the third day of hearings in the case, the divorced mother of five didn’t talk to reporters, but her attorney confirmed her daughter is pregnant.

"This goes to show that this case is of more than hypothetical interest to my client," attorney Paul Contrathe told British media.

In a statement, Axon said she was proud her daughter told her about her pregnancy and hopes the law can be changed to help other parents who don’t know.

"It backs up my case, that this is what is happening with young girls, who are having sex and getting pregnant because it is there for them on a plate," Axon said.

"They know they can go to their doctor and they won’t have to tell their parents about it. The confidentiality policy gives them the confidence to have sex underage knowing they won’t have to tell their parents," she explained.

Axon had an abortion 20 years ago and regrets the decision saying it caused her "guilt, shame and depression."

A ruling in the case is expected before the end of the year. The Department of Health is presenting its case today.