Life Imitating Art

http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2010/March/Wash-High-School-Clinic-Arran ges-Students-Abortion/.

A mother in Washington state is furious after a health care center at a public high school helped her daughter have an abortion without her consent or knowledge.

The mother says her 15-year-old daughter took a pregnancy test at the Ballard High School's Teen Health Center in Seattle.

When the test came back positive, officials did not notify the parent. Instead, the girl was sent to an abortion clinic.

"They just told her that if she concealed it from her family, that it would be free of charge and no financial responsibility," the mother, identified as "Jill," told television station KOMO.

The mother said she signed a consent form allowing her daughter to get treatment at the school's health center. But she had no idea the clinic could arrange for abortions.

"Nowhere in this paperwork does it mention abortion or facilitating abortion." she said. "Signing this paper makes me feel like my rights were completely stripped away."

The health care center is operated by a private company, but it's overseen by the King County Health Department.

A health department official said while it is best for parents to be involved in their child's health care decisions, they (the parents) do not always have a say.