Circuit Judge Jonathan Sjostrom of Florida has denied a request filed by the ACLU and Planned Parenthood to withdraw the proposal that would require abortion facilities in Florida to notify parents of teenage girls before they can perform an abortion.
Florida state legislature has previously ruled that parents should not be involved in the abortion decisions of their daughters. However, this new proposal would amend the state constitution to require the participation of the parents.
Abortion advocates have said that they will appeal Sjostrom’s decision to the Supreme Court.
Meanwhile, supporters of the proposal lauded the ruling.
"Parents need to know when someone performs surgery on their daughters. Teens have experienced serious complications and death from legal abortions in Florida. Evidence shows that after parental involvement laws are put in effect, the teenage pregnancy rate goes down, the teenage abortion rate goes down, and the teenage birthrate goes down," says Robin Hoffman, President of Florida Right to Life.
