Posted on: Wednesday, February 13, 2002

Parental consent rule for abortions debated

By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer

The head of the Hawaii Right to Life group yesterday called for state hospitals to require parental permission for minors to get abortions.

The Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, which manages 12 state hospitals, adopted a policy last month requiring the permission, but suspended the policy this month while the corporation reviews legal issues.

Hawaii Right To Life executive director John Long yesterday said he believes the policy follows a state medical treatment law that requires parental consent on surgery and any treatment to induce abortion. He said the policy should not have been suspended.

"We think ... (Hawaii Health Systems Corporation) should obey the law as it's written," Long said.

But opponents of the parental-permission policy said a medical treatment law that requires parental permission for a minor's abortion violates the state and federal constitutions.

"It's on the books, but we're saying it's unconstitutional," said lawyer Louise Ing, one of the lead lawyers on abortion issues. "So it's not an enforceable law. If anybody tried to enforce it, they would be subject to a legal challenge in court."

Hawaii Health Systems Corporation earlier said the policy was aimed at ending confusion over whether parental permission is required for minors and to shield hospitals from being sued by parents under a law that requires hospitals to get parental consent for any medical treatment.