The teenager was described in court documents as “almost 17 years old and parentless.” The appellate court denied her appeal to bypass the consent laws and get parental permission, though one judge, Scott Makar, partially dissented. The teen was 10 weeks pregnant; after 15 weeks in Florida, abortion is banned. Guttmacher Institute says 36 states have parental notification and/or consent laws.
Though the teen has support from a guardian and said she is not ready to have a baby, a court upheld a ruling that said she isn't "sufficiently mature" to choose.