Consistency in protecting under-21s from abortion and its harmful effects

This letter was sent to Voices@TODAY but was not published.

Abortion is an invasive surgical procedure that can cause common complications like bleeding and infection, and more serious ones include injury to the womb and surrounding organs. Various studies also show that abortion contributes to maternal mortality, increases the risk of breast cancer and the risk of miscarriage. Considering the implications of abortion on a child's present and future health, why is there no minimum legal age for abortion and no parental consent is needed? (“Set minimum age for women seeking abortion”; 15 Aug).

In a review for medical professionals of the impact of abortion on women’s physical and mental health in Australia, a woman who undergoes an abortion is six times more likely to commit suicide, 30% more likely to suffer from depression and 25% more likely to suffer from anxiety compared to a woman who gives birth.

Many women are ambivalent about pregnancy and abortion. Women rarely see babies themselves as a threat, and instead feel positively towards them.  However, it is the related experiences, like the future stress and difficulty of parenthood, financial stress, loss of freedom, pressures to abort from their partners that many women may see abortion as the only solution.

Health professionals do not always recognise the complexities of women’s lives and are at risk of presuming in favour of abortion.

Most parents love their children and discipline them for their best interests at heart. When parents learn that their child is pregnant, it is natural that parents would be disappointed, angry and even feel that they have failed in their roles as parents. 

In the best parent-child relationship, the child may not voluntarily discuss the issue of abortion as she does not want to disappoint or burden her parents. Guilt, fear and shame push the child away from her parents, leaving her feeling alone and helpless. Even the best counsellor cannot provide the sense of security, vital support and comfort that only parents can provide.

Without parental consent for abortions, parents are kept in the dark about their child's predicament and the child makes a rash decision without considering other alternatives like raising the child up with the support of her parents or giving the child up for adoption.

Truly there is a need for the Government to review the Termination of Pregnancy Act, to be consistent in protecting under-21s from all life-altering activities, including abortion, where another precious life is at stake.