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Question: Does a girl have the right to see a doctor to see if she is pregnant without her parents knowing?

Answer: In Arizona, unless a girl under age 18 is married, is in the armed forces, or unless her parents have acted in such a way that they lost parental rights (all three of these mean that she is an emancipated minor) it is unlikely that she can get medical care of any kind without her parent's consent, and therefore without their knowledge. A doctor cannot treat a patient without the consent of the patient, and a minor is probably not able to give consent under the law. (This is different for a girl over the age of 18, who is an adult and can do what she wants to do.)

A parent has the right and the duty to care for and control a child until they turn 18. This extends to making decisions about her medical care.

If a girl is in need of medical care (a pregnant girl needs prenatal care) and the parent is not providing it, then the girl may be able to get help from the state. However, this cannot be done without the parents knowing about it.

Although not specifically asked, abortion is a topic important to this answer. According to Arizona law (ARS ยง 36-2152), a minor cannot have an abortion unless she has written consent from one parent, or her guardian, or if a judge authorizes the abortion. This law allows a minor to file a petition for a hearing at which time the judge will decide if an abortion should go forward without the consent of the parents. This hearing can take place without the parents being informed.

A doctor may perform an abortion without permission from the parent or from a court if the minor certified to him that the pregnancy resulted from sexual conduct with a parent, stepparent, uncle, grandparent, sibling, adoptive parent, legal guardian, foster parent or a person who lives in the same household as the minor and her mother. He must then make a report to law enforcement officials, who will investigate.

A doctor may also perform an abortion if he believes, based on his review of the medical records of the minor that there is a medical condition that makes it necessary for an immediate abortion to save her life, or where delay will create a risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of major bodily function.


Comments
1 thru 5 of 38 comments
On 10/10/06
april from MI said:
i dont think the teen should have to tell their parent because of the fact they might be scard of their parents reactions whenever the teen is ready to tell about their pregnancy thats when the should tell their parents and its their body and no one else so that is on them
On 01/10/06
ryan from CA said:
i think if the girl is old enogh to go and get pregnant than she should be old enough to make her own decisions whether or if she wnats to tell her family or anyone for that matter. it is completely up to her! but at least make sure you are healty and taking care of the baby and yourselves as well!!!!! goodluck and goodbye till next time!
On 06/09/04
Jynefer from VA said:
I just recently found out I'm pregnanat - and I'm terrified, nervous and so excited all at the same time. You know...I'm not married but have been in a long term relationship...so does it make it ok? Who cares. I feel great about it. I agree with you 100 % on the part of having a choice. That's what America's all about . . . having choices. Everything in life is circumstantial and always will be - so to base things on the good ol USA...religion...some one else's morals and values and not on the circumstances itself is wrong.
On 05/11/04
brianna from AZ said:
i dont think that its right to say that someone is not "mature" enough to have an abortion jsut becasue of her age. its there choice, i dont think that it should be illegal becauser a woman has the right to protect her body and to live on with out having a kid if they are not ready for one. i dont believe it would be fair for the government to control what you do with your pragnancy, ithink that it should be your decision. but i do think that there should be a good reason to get an abortion,like for instance, if a girl got raped i believe she should be able to have an abortion
On 05/10/04
lorenzo from CA said:
i think that a girl should tell there parent whether or not that they're pregnant because by telling them that you're pregnant they can help you in a way. Well at first they might get angry at you but then on you are still a family so they'll will get over it. Then they will still regret not taking care og
1 thru 5 of 38 comments



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