Montana Code 50-20-502. Legislative purpose and findings
50-20-502. Legislative purpose and findings. (1) The legislature finds that:
Terms Used In Montana Code 50-20-502
- Abortion: means the use or prescription of any instrument, medicine, drug, or other substance or device to intentionally terminate the pregnancy of a woman known to be pregnant, with an intention other than to increase the probability of a live birth, to preserve the life or health of the child after live birth, or to remove a dead fetus. See Montana Code 50-20-104
- Minor: means a pregnant female under 18 years of age who is not an emancipated minor. See Montana Code 50-20-503
- Physician: means a person licensed to practice medicine under Title 37, chapter 3. See Montana Code 50-20-503
- State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See Montana Code 1-1-201
(a)immature minors often lack the ability to make fully informed choices that take into account both immediate and long-range consequences;
(b)the medical, emotional, and psychological consequences of abortion are sometimes serious and can be lasting, particularly when the patient is immature;
(c)the capacity to become pregnant and the capacity for mature judgment concerning the wisdom of an abortion are not necessarily related;
(d)parents ordinarily possess information essential to a physician in the exercise of the physician’s best medical judgment concerning the minor;
(e)parents who are aware that their minor daughter has had an abortion may better ensure that the daughter receives adequate medical care after the abortion; and
(f)parental consultation is usually desirable and in the best interests of the minor.
(2)The purpose of this part is to further the important and compelling state interests of:
(a)protecting minors against their own immaturity;
(b)fostering family unity and preserving the family as a viable social unit;
(c)protecting the constitutional rights of parents to rear children who are members of their household; and
(d)reducing teenage pregnancy and unnecessary abortion.