White House Promotes Underage Abortions

The White House promoted a press release Tuesday sent by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) directing Americans, including minors, to a website informing them how to obtain abortions anywhere in the United States.

The HHS press release, titled “Know Your Rights: Reproductive Health Care” highlights the website AbortionFinder.org. The website provides information on “abortion funds and resources” as well as details on each state’s laws, the press release noted.

AbortionFinder.org, which requests the last date of a woman’s period and their age in the abortion provider search section, has separate search options for those aged “18 or older,” “17,” “16” and “15 or younger.” In clicking any of the under 18 options, a notice points out that “some states require people under 18 to involve a parent or guardian when getting an abortion.”

However, the website further directs minors to information on how they can obtain an abortion without “involving a parent or guardian.”

“If you need to avoid involving a parent or guardian, contact the If/When/How Judicial Bypass (JP) Helpline for information about getting a judicial bypass,” the website notes with a link to a subsequent website titled “Repro Legal Helpline.”

“Currently, 38 states have parental involvement laws that require young people to tell a parent, get permission from a parent, or both before they can have an abortion,” the helpline website points out. “But there are other options if you can’t or don’t want to involve your parents, or if your parents refuse to support your decision. You can get an order from a judge that lets you get an abortion without telling your parents. This process is called judicial bypass.”

HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra criticized the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down Roe v. Wade Tuesday, saying it was “despicable” and promising that the agency has “been preparing” for the ruling. The HHS press release noted that the agency “is committed to providing you with accurate and up-to-date information about access to and coverage of reproductive health care and resources.”

In addition to referring readers to the AbortionFinder.org website, the HHS press release also included information on birth control, other preventative health services, and details options for those without health insurance.