How can a child make the decision concerning the life of another child? In this article, I will highlight the mental, physical, and safety issues of minors (aged 18 and under) who have an abortion and why it is so important that they need their parents' consent before making this lifelong decision. Talking about abortion brings out an emotional response in many women. Indeed, abortion has a considerable emotional impact on some women. As Nanyjo Mann said, three weeks after having an abortion: “I became preoccupied with thoughts of death. I fantasized about how I was going to die. My baby struggled for two hours” (Reardon, 1987, p. xviii). In the preface to the book “Aborted Women, No More Silence,” Nanyjo, a woman telling her abortion story, goes on to say that she felt unstable with herself after having an abortion. She wanted to prove to herself that destroying others doesn't hurt, but it does hurt (Reardon, 1987, p. xix-xx). Continuing to read Nanyjo's story, she recounts all the effects and feelings she experienced after an abortion, including stress, depression, and low self-esteem. Any girl under 18 would have an even harder time handling this type of stress. Teenagers are already searching for their identity and worrying about their grades, their appearance, and the acceptance of their peers. Experiencing post-abortion stress alone would be overwhelming and potentially put them at risk of mental depression. Another thing to consider is the physical health risks during and after an abortion. As Ring-Cassidy and Gentles (2003) said, “Abortion is never safe” (p. 89), this tells us that you can never be sure that you will be completely okay when you have an abortion. ... ... middle of paper ...... for them, if something is wrong mentally or physically, it is something that all girls facing pregnancy should experience when going through something as upsetting as an abortion. If teenagers choose to have unprotected sex, they should face the consequences like an adult and admit their mistakes, even in front of their parents. Noting the physical and mental distress that abortion can cause in a young child or teenager, don't you think this law should also be in place? Works Cited Reardon, D (1987). Aborted women: no more silence. Chicago, IL: LoyolaUniversity PressRing-Cassidy, E and Gentles, I. (2003). Women's health after abortion: medical and psychological evidence. Toronto, Ontario: deVeber Institute for Bioethics and Social Research, Rutgers University (2009). Sex in the United States. http://www.sexetc.org/state