In This State, Minors Need Parental Permission for Ibuprofen, but Not for an Abortion

The Republican governor of Vermont signed legislation this week which makes it legal for minors to obtain an abortion without parental consent. Vermont law also allows non-physicians, including registered nurse practitioners, to perform abortions. To put in perspective how radical the state’s abortion standards are, consider that parents have to give their child written or verbal permission to obtain so much as an ibuprofen pill from the school nurse, but do not have to approve of their daughter’s obtaining a life-altering decision like abortion under GOP Gov. Phil Scott’s new law. . .

The bill does not include an age limit on which individuals can obtain an abortion. In fact, while the bill was going through the state legislature, several representatives tried adding amendments which would have specified that those under 18-years-old would need permission from their parents and legal guardians before obtaining an abortion. . .

The final version of the bill which Gov. Scott signed did not include any provisions about notification of a minor’s parent before that child received an abortion. Yet, according to HealthVermont.gov, students under the age of 18 need permission from parents to take prescribed and non-prescribed medicine on school grounds under state law.

The primary reason for requiring parental permission for headache medicine, according to the Vermont Department of Health/Agency of Education is to “assure that medications administered to students are done so in a way that assures safety and compliance with state law and school policies and procedures. (Read more from “In This State, Minors Need Parental Permission for Ibuprofen, but Not for an Abortion” HERE)

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