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Lodi pregnancy center supports abortion measure, while Planned Parenthood in Stockton against Prop. 73

By Jennifer Snyder
News-Sentinel Features Editor
Wednesday, October 19, 2005 11:44 PM PDT

Lodi's Pregnancy Resource Center is a proponent of Proposition 73, which would make it mandatory for parents to be notified 48 hours before their teenage daughter's abortion, while Planned Parenthood is against the measure.

Rita Williams, executive director of the Pregnancy Resource Center, said that in the Roe v. Wade decision on abortion, no terms were set forth about minors having abortions.

"This is something that needs to be shared with parents, and it needs to be a family decision," she said of the procedure. "Parental notification actually will encourage families to make an important decision together."

She added that this decision should not be left to someone who doesn't know the girl or her circumstances. And, it is important for teenage girls to let their parents know about a medical decision as major as an abortion.

Theodros Gashaw, a coordinator of the Stockton region of Planned Parenthood, however said that the organization's concern is communication between parents and children cannot be mandated by the government.

"It may sound good, but in reality, it puts teens in danger," he said.

Gashaw suggested that teenagers in abusive families may not want to talk to their parents about an abortion and may do a "back alley" or "self-induced" abortion which can hurt or even kill the mother.

He also said that the number of teen pregnancies has dropped because of more counseling and education, and about 60 percent of teens do consult their parents about abortions.

"It's about the safety of teens," he said.

Contact reporter Jennifer Snyder at jennifers@lodinews.com.

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