British Mom Loses Court Battle in Parental Notification on Abortion Case

National   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Jan 23, 2006   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

British Mom Loses Court Battle in Parental Notification on Abortion Case Email this article
Printer friendly page

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
January 23, 2006

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — A mother of two teenager daughters has lost her court battle in England for the right to know when her children are considering an abortion. Sue Axon says her 16 year-old daughter is pregnant and she had an abortion herself 20 years ago and regrets the decision.

Mr. Justice Silber ruled that Axon, and British parents in general, have no right to know when their teenage daughters are considering an abortion, despite the potential for severe emotional or physical complications.

To allow parents to help their daughter "may lead her to make a decision that she later regrets or seek the assistance of an unofficial abortionist," the judge claimed.

"I am obviously disappointed by the judgment of the court," Axon said in response.

According to a Trinity Mirror news report Axon does not plan to appeal the decision.

The British mom had hoped to get the Department of Health to change its rules to allow for parental notification.

The health rules say abortion practitioners must respect the confidentiality of girls under the age of 16 if they want to have an abortion or receive reproductive health care.

Axon says her abortion caused her "guilt, shame and depression for many years and to this day regrets having undergone it."

"Having endured the trauma of abortion, I brought the case to ensure that medical professionals would not carry out an abortion on one of my daughters without first informing me," she explained. "I could then discuss such a life-changing event with her and provide the support she would need."

Axon said she didn’t regret pressing her legal case in courts.