West Virginia Gov. Signs Bill Preventing Underage Abortions without Parental Consent
- Veronica Neffinger iBelieve Contributor
- Updated Apr 28, 2017
![West Virginia Gov. Signs Bill Preventing Underage Abortions without Parental Consent](https://i.swncdn.com/media/700w/crosswalk/resource/areas/crosswalk/resources/images/defaultimages/article-large-landscape.png)
West Virginia’s governor has signed a bill into law that prevents underage girls from getting abortions without parental consent.
LifeNews.com reports that Gov. Jim Justice signed the Parent’s Right to Know Act into law after it was passed in the West Virginia legislature.
West Virginia law had already prohibited underage girls from getting abortions, but it allowed them to go through with the abortion if they obtained a waiver from a second doctor. The new law closes this loophole, although it does still allow a judge to override the law in cases of parental abuse.
Overall, pro-life groups applauded the new measure. “West Virginia’s pro-life legislators recognized the need to protect the rights of parents to know when their daughter is contemplating an abortion, which is an invasive surgical procedure and a life-changing decision,” said Karen Cross, political director of West Virginians for Life.
Cross added, however, “If a child is a victim of sexual abuse, I find it unbelievable that she can be given a secret abortion and returned to the abuse. This law should rectify that because judges are mandatory reporters.”
LifeNews also notes that parental consent abortion laws have strong public support and 37 states currently have some form of such a law in place.
Photo courtesy: Thinkstockphotos.com
Publication date: April 28, 2017