A court has ruled that a pregnant 16-year-old is ‘not matured enough’ to make a decision on whether to have an abortion, reports reveal.
The orphaned teen, who was ten weeks pregnant when she brought her case to the court in Florida, is now appealing the rule.
In Florida, a pregnant girl under the age of 18 needs the consent of a parent or guardian to get an abortion.
Even though the teen petitioned that she was ‘not ready to have a baby,’ it was ruled that she was ‘not mature enough’ to make a decision to terminate her pregnancy.
The ruling by Judges Scott Makar, Rachel Nordby and Harvey Jay states that the 16-year-old “had not established by clear and convincing evidence that she was sufficiently mature to decide whether to terminate her pregnancy.”
Makar wrote the case should be returned to Circuit Judge Jennifer Frydrychowicz as it was a ‘very close call.’
“The trial judge apparently sees this matter as a very close call, finding that the minor was ‘credible,’ ‘open’ with the judge, and noninvasive,” he said.
Makar also noted that he anticipated the teen “would potentially be returning before long — given the statutory time constraints at play — to shore up any lingering doubt the trial court harbored.”
He also said that the teenager had no parents but still put in the effort to search online and “gain an understanding about her medical options and their consequences.”
He also said that she is “pursuing a GED with involvement in a program designed to assist young women who have experienced trauma in their lives.”
The teen submitted her petition to the court, insisting “she is sufficiently mature to make the decision,” adding that she “is not ready to have a baby” as she is still studying and doesn’t have a job.
Makar also said that the teen’s legal guardian agreed with her decision to abort the baby.
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