The Justice Foundation Supports New Rules to Protect against Child Abuse and Abortion Injuries

1/15/2004

From: Anne Newman, 210-771-0757, for The Justice Foundation

SAN ANTONIO, Jan. 15 -- The Justice Foundation and the abortion-injured women it represents support rules proposed by the Texas Department of Health to implement House Bill 15 (HB 15) and to enforce existing law. "The new rules will protect women by taking necessary steps to inform them about the medical and psychological effects of abortion. Just as important, the rules will protect minors from child abuse," said Allan Parker, CEO of The Justice Foundation.

"A photo ID is essential to protect minors from child abuse and to assure compliance with the parental notification law," Parker said. A lack of an ID is a red flag and a strong indicator that this is an underage child. The photo ID requirement is a result of a need to protect children from sexual abuse and to protect parental rights to "know" when their minor daughters seek an abortion. Older men frequently want abortion to cover their sexual abuse of young girls. The rule, which received tentative approval by the Board of Health, is to ensure enforcement of the existing parental notification law. Without this new rule, young girls will continue to have abortions without their parents being informed. The rule allows an affidavit as an alternative for those without a photo ID.

A woman represented by The Justice Foundation, seeking enforcement of existing law, was not informed about her minor daughter's abortion, which caused the girl severe psychological problems, including depression, suicidal tendencies, and hospitalization. In another incident, an abortion facility allowed a minor girl to complete a parental notification card with a false address, thus depriving the mother of her right to know about her child's abortion.

Parker dismisses concerns of the abortion industry that the ID requirement poses a threat to confidentially. "This concern is actually a condemnation of abortion facilities," Parker said, "because the woman's identity will only be revealed if an abortion facility breaks the law by revealing it."

The proposed rules under House Bill 15, designed to assure women's "right to know," are supported by scientific studies published in peer-reviewed journals. In addition to the plethora of research, the new rules are supported by the sworn testimony of women who have been seriously harmed by abortion. In affidavits, women state they were not adequately informed prior to having an abortion. "Consent is not consent if a woman is not fully informed," said Parker. "A brochure developed by the Texas Department of Health to inform women will help them to have as much information as possible when they make this difficult and tragic decision, which takes the life of their unborn children.

"We particularly applaud the Legislature and the Board of Health for providing a resource directory to help these expectant mothers with their pregnancies," said Parker. "Shouldn't society do as much as possible to help expectant mothers?" asked Parker.

The Justice Foundation is a non-profit, public-interest litigation firm that provides free legal assistance in landmark cases.