Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Hannah thinks that she is pregnant. Can Hannah consent to a pregnancy test without her parent's permission?
A. Yes. Hannah does not need parental consent to get a pregnancy test or sonogram.
Q. Rosa wants to be tested for HIV/AIDS. She is afraid to go to her family doctor because she has heard that her parents have to consent to the test. Must Rosa 's parents consent to the HIV/AIDS test?
A. No. Rosa may consent to the HIV/AIDS test on her own without parental involvement or without her parents being notified.
Q. Mary is 7 months pregnant and is looking forward to being a parent. She is worried that she will not be able to afford the expenses involved with raising a child. Are there government assistance programs that can help Mary?
A. Yes. Mary has a number of assistance programs available to her. For example, she may qualify for food stamps, health care, health insurance, and housing assistance. Mary may also contact the State Attorney General's Office to collect child support from the father of her baby.
Q. Felicia is pregnant and her parents are threatening to kick her out of the house if she keeps the baby. Can Felicia's parents force her to give the baby up for adoption?
A. No. Felicia's parents cannot force her to give the baby up for adoption. The choice is entirely up to Felicia. Felicia's parents are responsible for providing her with a home, whether or not Felicia keeps her baby, until Felicia turns 18 years old.
Q. Rebecca just told her mother that she is pregnant. Her mother is very upset and does not agree with Rebecca's decision to continue the pregnancy. Her mother has made an appointment for Rebecca to have an abortion. Must Rebecca have an abortion if her mother wants her?
A. No. The decision to have an abortion is only Rebecca's to make. Even if her mother takes her to a clinic and demands that an abortion be performed, the doctor will not perform the abortion unless Rebecca gives her consent.
Q. Yolonda is 17 years old and 6 weeks pregnant. She would like to have an abortion but the clinic is requiring her to notify at least one of her parents. Can the clinic do this?
A. Yes. The clinic must notify at least one of the minor's parents before performing an abortion because of the Parental Notification Law in Texas. Starting on September 1, 2005, the clinic must receive consent from at least one of the minor's parents before performing an abortion because of the new Parental Consent Law in Texas. For some pregnant teens, telling a parent or legal guardian of a decision to have an abortion can cause abuse, homelessness, or abandonment. If Yolanda is unable or unwilling to tell her parent or legal guardian about her decision to have an abortion, she call call the Jane's Due Process legal hotline at 1-866-www-jane or 1-866-999-5263 for help requesting a judicial bypass from the court.
Q. Maria is 16 years old and 5 weeks pregnant. She would like to have an abortion but she cannot tell her parents because she lives in an abusive home. Is there any way that Maria can have the abortion without telling her parents?
A. Yes. Maria can apply for a judicial bypass. Maria would go before a judge and ask for an order that would allow Maria to make the decision to have the abortion without parental notification and consent.
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