Defending the Truth

Abortion law would give fathers a say State legislators propose change; opponents blast bill as 'extreme'



Mike Hixenbaugh,July 30, 2007
Record-Courier staff writer

Several Ohio state representatives who normally take an anti-abortion stance are now pushing pro-choice legislation - sort of.


Led by Rep. John Adams, a group of state legislators have submitted a bill that would give fathers of unborn children a final say in whether or not an abortion can take place.
It's a measure that, supporters say, would finally give fathers a choice.


"This is important because there are always two parents and fathers should have a say in the birth or the destruction of that child," said Adams, a Republican from Sidney. "I didn't bring it up to draw attention to myself or to be controversial. In most cases, when a child is born the father has financial responsibility for that child, so he should have a say."


As written, the bill would ban women from seeking an abortion without written consent from the father of the fetus. In cases where the identity of the father is unknown, women would be required to submit a list of possible fathers. The physician would be forced to conduct a paternity test from the provided list and then seek paternal permission to abort.


Claiming to not know the father's identity is not a viable excuse, according to the proposed legislation. Simply put: no father means no abortion.


"I'm really pleased that this has been proposed for one reason - it draws attention to the fact that many men are concerned and care for their unborn children," said Denise Mackura, the director of the Ohio Right to Life Society

<< a female misogynist!! yikes>>.


"You have no idea how many men call telling me about their girlfriends who plan to abort, asking what they can do to help her. They do want to help and they should have a voice."


With the proposal, men would be guaranteed that voice under penalty of law. First time violators would by tried for abortion fraud, a first degree misdemeanor. The same would be the case for men who falsely claim to be fathers and for medical workers who knowingly perform an abortion without paternal consent.


In addition, women would be required to present a police report in order to prove a pregnancy is the result of rape or incest.

"Simply taking a look at this as a possibility is a step in the right direction," Mackura said. "Pregnancy is a unique human condition and obviously a woman is affected differently than a man. As a woman, I can sympathize. However, to completely take rights away from the father is unfair.

"Currently, even in a marriage situation, a man has no right to even be informed of an abortion. But if a woman doesn't have an abortion, men sure have a lot of responsibility then.



It's really not fair."



Recordpub.com

I think that the man should have the right to know. I don't think there is a reasonable argument against it that couldn't be refuted quite simply. Now the question is should that knowledge provide him with legal rights to contest the procedure. That is difficult to say.

I support a womans right to choose, but it shouldn't be easy to make that decision. I am of the opinion that abortions should be legal, safe, and rare. From that view point, I think the father should have a right to be an advocate for the unborn child. At the end of the day it is still a womans decision, but a disregard of the man's role in the event is kinda excessive.

She should have the right to make the decision, he should have the right to know.

This will get striken down faster than flies on shit.

The Supreme Court has already ruled on this one gary. This is nothing more than a bullshit vote/money grabbing bill aimed at those who think this type of law can be enacted.

I think men should be informed, I don't know if it should be required by law, but they certainly have no place to stop it. A man should only have a say if the woman gives him one...

Giving more people a "choice" in what a woman decides to allow to feed off her body is just more ways of controlling the woman.

I can't think of a better way to drive abortions underground and back into the alleys.

I agree. This is entirely unenforcible.

Is the abortion clinic required to verify the father's signature and perform the paternity tests?

How hard would it be for a woman to pay some guy 20 bucks to sign for the abortion?

A bit excessive. I don't see where the right to know is equivalent to the right of choice. If a woman has the right to choice a man should have the right to know. I mean it's flippin common courtsey.