title: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists v. Thornburgh, 9 March 1987.
abstract: The Court was asked to consider the constitutionality of rules promulgated under the Pennsylvania Abortion Control Act regarding procedures by which pregnant women under the age of eighteen who are not emancipated or were judged incompetent could obtain judicial authorization for an abortion.  It held that rules a) allowing parents to be present in judicial proceedings, b) not requiring a court trial to compel appointment of counsel for the minor, and c) permitting the appointment of a guardian ad litem for the minor, were not unconstitutional. It also held unconstitutional, however, rules that a) allowed a twenty-three day judicial delay; b) failed to provide for expedited appeal when the trial court fails to act; c) required that a minor's petition be verified by notarized affidavit; and d) failed to include procedures for incompetents. In 1987 another United States District Court ruled that provisions requiring a parent or other adult to accompany a minor seeking an abortion and requiring the use of a minor's name and social security number in a petition seeking to bypass parental authorization without requiring that records be sealed were unconstitutional (Planned Parenthood of Atlanta Area vs. Harris, United States District Court, N.D. Georgia, Atlanta Division, 8 September 1987 [670 F.Supp. 971]).
mesh_terms: D000028:Abortion, Induced; D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000569:Americas; D003710:Demography; D019049:Developed Countries; D004194:Disease; D005193:Family Planning Services; D005845:Georgia; D007603:Jurisprudence; D001523:Mental Disorders; D009656:North America; D010414:Pennsylvania; D011153:Population; D011154:Population Characteristics; D020458:Third-Party Consent; D014481:United States
keywords: Abortion, Induced--legal aspects; Age Factors; Americas; Court Decision; Demographic Factors; Developed Countries; Diseases; Family Planning; Fertility Control, Postconception; Georgia; Mental Disorders--legal aspects; Minors--legal aspects; North America; Northern America; Parental Consent--legal aspects; Pennsylvania; Population; Population Characteristics; United States