NCJ Number
50361
Date Published
1975
Length
21 pages
Annotation
A TRANSCRIPT OF THE TELEVISION PROGRAM 'FIRING LINE' CONTAINS A DISCUSSION OF TEENAGE RIGHTS REGARDING CONTRACEPTION AND ABORTION.
Abstract
THIS VERBATIM TRANSCRIPT RECORDS THE DISCUSSION BETWEEN MR. BUCKLEY, PROGRAM MODERATOR, AND TWO LAWYERS CONCERNING THE LEGAL RIGHTS OF TEENAGERS. QUESTIONS ARGUED CENTER ON WHETHER THE EFFECTS OF IMMORALITY AS JUDGED BY A PARENT ARE SOMETHING WITH WHICH THE STATE CAN INTERFERE. FOR EXAMPLE, MAY CONTRACEPTIVE OR ABORTION SERVICES BE GIVEN TO TEENAGERS WITHOUT THE KNOWLEDGE AND CONSENT OF THE PARENTS. OTHER QUESTIONS RAISED INCLUDE THE RIGHT TO CONTRACEPTIVES TO LIMIT VENEREAL DISEASE, THE RIGHT OF THE STATES TO SET AGE LIMITS FOR ACCESS TO SERVICES AND INFORMATION, THE ETHICS OF MANDATING MORALS, THE POSSIBILITY THAT MEMBERS OF THE MIDDLE CLASS WILL ACT IN A CALM AND PRUDENT WAY WHEN FACED WITH TEENAGE PREGNANCY, AND THE BEST WAYS TO OFFER NEEDED HEALTH SERVICE TO A CHILD WHO MAY NOT WANT HIS OR HER PARENTS TO KNOW OF A PARTICULAR SITUATION. A BRIEF NOTE DURING THE PANEL DISCUSSION WHICH FOLLOWS THE INTERVIEWS REFERS TO THE USE OF LAWYERS TO REPRESENT CHILDREN DURING DIVORCE CASES. PHOTOGRAPHS OF PARTICIPANTS ARE INCLUDED. (RFC)