You want her to get an abortion?! Have you asked her what she wants? I know a few girls that had babies at that age and you know they made the best of the situation. Theres one girl who had an abortion and due to the lack support emotional and physical she comitted suicide. So just be carefull, at 14 you might not be mature enough but you can think for yourself. Anyways to kill an innocent baby just because the mommy made an mistake is just plain wrong!!!!!

Under age sex is WRONG! at 13 you do not even know yourself, how can you take responsibility for some one else?!?! Have the 23 year old "boyfriend" prosecuted for statutory rape and have the baby go up for adoption, and then she should get a decent education. At 13 you should be studying your butt off to get a decent education not having babies! What? does she want to live in poverty for the rest of her miserable life? Was there nothing else to do?! than have sex?!?

What a sad situation! Firstly, your neice is a victim of Statutory rape, whether it was consentual or not, but you can't FORCE her to have an abortion. Just think of the damange it could do to her body. She may never have children again. No matter how old she is, the choice to have the baby is hers and hers alone, although you said something about mentally challenged? There are PLENTY of phsyciatrists (look a few up in the phone book) who can give a medical opinion.

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First of all it is a sin to kill, I do not think you have thought of what you saying = abortion that is not good at all, we can rather talk about adoption instead. The name arbotion is so bad in God's hands

As some have said, the father should be prosecuted for at least statutory) rape. It sounds like he shamelessly took advantage of a child (mentally challenged at that!) and has now caused a lot of trouble and heartache for her and her family. As for the rest, if the girl is mentally challenged she is likely not going to be able to look after a baby anyway, and it will be up to her guardians to do what they think is best. I agree that a psychologist's opinion will be helpful though. Abortion if done at a reputable clinic will not have any permanent effect on the girl's ability to conceive. I think what Charlene wants and needs is advice, not judgement. Good luck, I hope you can resolve it. Childline should be able to help, as well as Marie Stopes clinics http://www.mariestopes.org.za/

I'm sorry for what you're going through, my daughter is also 14 and it scares me just to think that she might have a boyfriend. Involved the police as soon as you can. Good luck

WTF? How possible can a GP note that she is mentally challenged? Then again, reading the question makes me wonder if you as a parent isn't challenged in some way? I'm sorry for your child having to grow up in circumstances like that.

Don't have an abortion. Let her have the child and give it to the father to bring up, tell him if he refuses, you're going to make a case of rape against him. That will teach him to keep it in his pants!

@ Barry. Seems like you are challenged as well. It's her niece you moron.

I say wait for the baby to be born then abort the mother, or the one considering abortion. I feel this towards ALL abortion cases.

what Charlene needs is advice and not for everyone to voice their stupid high and mightier than thou opinions. Definitely the 23 year old male that made basically raped the under age child has to be prosecuted so as not to do it again. the 14 year old child,as she is still a child needs to be assessed to see if she really is mentally challenged and wether or not she has the mental capabilities to bring the child to full term. if not it will be far better for the young girl to have an abortion than to end up trying to abort the baby herself which may be possible as she had no real supervision to prevent this tragedy from happening in the first place. yes i also do not like the thought of abortion,but no one has the right to play God and pass judgement on a child that has been raped(taken advantage of). some circumstances such as this need compassion and understanding. there are far to many unwanted children around already so if anyone feels that strongly please go immediately and adopt one.

If memory serves me correctly this is a legal matter and only a court can make the decision for her - even though she is under age and mentally challenged. I would suggest you contact CPU NOW and get the proceedings going before it is too late for any proper decision to be made in the best interests of the child. There have also been cases where the courts have allowed for sterilisation of mentally challenged teens. Most importantly is that this SOB who made her pregnant gets castrated ASAP!

Yes - As she is not responsible and it is not fair to expect the world to look after another child who will most likely have problems later. You just have to love all those who say OOOH but its wrong to abort, are they going to be there for the child? "My" God wont judge her as she has a mental problem, and "My" God already thinks she is perfect.

The article doesnt seem to show her as being raped. Girls of today are "hip and fly and fasionable" enough to open the legs, but we all need to cry in sympathy when their little world collapses. Here is to baby 2 and 3 and 4

You could always practice infanticide. The difference between that and abortion is only a few months... Well done for advocating murder though!

It is wrong to do a abortion, In God's eye's it is murder, even if the heart beats for only 2 days. Everything happens for a reason, and mayby there is parents that can't have a baby and maby she can have it for them. But please think before you do something dum. Don't look at the problem, but show the problem how big God is.

Wow, epic parenting fail...

A lot of people seem to have missed that this child is mentally handicapped! CPU needs to be involved and the "father" needs to have his butt thrown in jail. In fact...he deserves worse than that...raping an under-age mentally handicapped child is unforgiveable. People like that need to be removed from society permanently...

Hi there, Here is th enumber for Childline within your province. Please call them for further assistance and help in the matter Tel: 041 453 0441.

Yolandi thank you for your advice. Not for sensitive readers... My younger sister was gang-raped and severly beaten a few weeks ago... The pregnancy test came out yesterday and she is 2 weeks pregnant. Everything happens with a reason? God wanted her to be raped and to have the baby? Please open your eyes... Nothing happens "for a reason", she will abort the child as it was not her choice to get raped.

A number of issues here; 1. The father must be prosecuted to the full extent of the law, and preferable undergo castration - medical or not! 2. Abortion is not murder! It is the termination of a foetus before it becomes a baby. In these circumstances, I would definately agree on an abortion. What child would want to grow up as the product of a rape - and with a mentally handicapped mother. Had one myself, and it is simple procedure. 3. The question of abortion is one of a choice that a mother has to terminate a pregnancy. Here the choice is made, usually by a responsible adult. I am not sure what the law says about the rights of family members to make decisions on this when the woman is too young, or mentally handicapped. Clearly, there are some situations where the mother is not capable of making such a choice - (age or mental handicap). Perhaps in these situations, a court would need to decide. THis is a truly terrible situation, and I wish your family strength through these times.

Irrespective of peoples' religious beliefs and otherwise, the law provides that the 14-year-old (who has, essentially, been raped) receive an abortion. If she is mentally challenged, she should probably be sterilised, too, to avoid something like this happening in the future.

What ever you do, please do not abort the baby. Give it to a good family that will look after it. There are so many people out there that cannot have children of their own, women who cry themselves to sleep every night because they can not have children. You will do your daughter more harm than you might think if you send her for an abortion. It is not just a psychical thing, but also an emotional and metal situation, no matter if you think she is mentally challenged. Do not do what you think will be an easy way out!

Huh! this is not easy to any parent/guardian of the young lady. i think even though she is mentally ill she has a chance of giving birth to a normal healthy baby. why don't you look for adoption? I think having abortion will make matters worse. Does she even know what's happening?

You can get a legal abortion in SA up to 12 weeks, to get someone pregnant below 16 years of age is per defenition stationary rape, so the boy is in trouble.

My daughter fell pregnant when she was 17, from the beginning she insisted she wanted to keep the baby, I offered to adopt the baby but she would not hear of it, she has managed to get through a very difficult time and my grand daughter is the absolute apple of my eye I love her unconditionally, makes you think doesn't it?

Well first off I think the guy is a pervert to take advantage of a 14 year old He is utter rubbish to even think of doing it to a mentally challenged girl I say have him charged for statutory rape then when he comes out of jail have his testicles removed by means of a blunt knife As for his parents they should also be criminally charged for bringing such a disgusting male into this world and they (the parents of the boy) should be held accountable for all costs. If the abortion is not done they (the parents of the boy and the boy himself) should be liable until the child is self supporting And by the way I am a male

Please don't have an abortion. It is more damaging to the person. Rather give it up for adoption and give a couple who can't have children the oppertunity to raise a child.

And as usual for these forums... judgement and hate.

Please don't abort. You can give it up for adoption. And you can also lay charges of statutory rape against the 23 year old guy.

Although it is a very traumatic decision to make, my opinion would be to go ahead with a legal abortion. Firstly she is far too young, secondly she is mentally challenged, the birth will be a financial burden on the family and lastly, the father is a lowlife!! Do the right thing because that child will grow up with a stigma attached and have to live with it forever. Good luck and I hope whatever decision you do make, it is, in the long run a good one for all involved. I hope you know who the father is and legal steps are taken against him!

Dear Patience Abortion is a process of "natural" picking of the stronger genes that will ensure the scum that made the chick pregnant does not feature in society. Clearly the illusion of a god is shortening your sight to understand how nature works.

People, she is a 14 years old mentally challenged little girl for goodness sake............ !! How can she decided if she wants to have the baby or not? This is a decision that "grown ups" need to make on her behalf whether it be a physiatrist, a doctor or a parent!! The child has obvioulsy been taken advantage by the dog of a father. Save her now while you can and do a legal abortion in a hospital. What kind of a life is she going to lead with a child before she is even out of her teens?????

First of all "that man" should be charged with rape as she is under the legal age for sex as well as you put it "she is mentally challenged". I have a sister in law that is mentally challenged and she went to a special school during her teenage years. At the school the parents suggested that you sterilised the girls before they hit there teens. At the time we thought it was horrific but looking back now I think it ws the best thing to do. My sister in law had 2 children later on in life and they are not fully with it as well as the fact that they have become a burdon on her parents who look after them financially and emotionally. Her father paid the doctor to sterilise her after the second child and I think it is for the best. It sounds harsh I know but they don't realise it's the child thats innocent but it's the child that lands up suffering and going without.

A few facts: In the medieval times and up to 1oo years ago women got married by the age of 13 to 14. Stats show that the average girl loose her virginity at the young age of 13. She CAN decide if she want to have a baby, also she don't have to keep the baby, there is a lot of people that look after unwanted children. Secondly, the only REAL innocent victim here is the baby him/her self. So why must he/she pay the ultimate price for his/her parents mistakes? Anyway, when do you become 'human'? When do you get a soal? A soal can not be measured, so how can doctors say you only become human by the age of 6 months?

I think an abortion would be more traumatic to the child than allowing her to give the baby up for adoption. She has already been through something which will affect her emotional welfare for a long time. An unborn baby is not the enemy here, it is the man who impregnated her. Let her have the child - it wont be a burden to anyone including the mom if the child is given up. I know of someone who had an abortion 3 years ago and she has still not gotten over the depression and guilt. Abortions are extremely invasive and this young girl has already been abused and i doubt she will understand what her body will be going through if the fetus were removed.

What the hell? The girl is 14, pregnant by a 23yo and some GP says she is mentally challenged?? And the doctor who can change it all is overseas?? Damn, talk about messed up situations. What if the "overseas" doctor calls for her leg to be amputated?

funny all those who say abortion will affect the child more than giving it up for adoption... prove it! think of the thousands of children who are up for adoption, and here you want to add another because of your own idictic view point. second point, how can the only GP be overseas? If you decide abortion is best, then you can get a court order, what ever you do dont wait, get answer's and get something done before it's to late.

Firstly, I think the parents are to blame in an instance like this. If their 14 year old is mentally challenged then they should be protecting her. How does a 14 year old mentally challenged girl end up pregnant by a 23 year old?? Where were her parents? This situation is their fault and they should face up to the consequences and raise this child, this precious gift of life that they have been given!!! I heard a story recently which really highlighted for me the question surrounding abortion - a mother goes to the doctor, her rosy cheeked 2 year daughter is with her. She explains to the doctor that she has done a home test and is pregnant and since she can't afford to have another baby, she would like to have an abortion. The doctor says "Well newborns are far cheaper than toddlers, so why don't we just murder your 2 year old? That way you can have the baby..." The mother is horrified, and holds her daughter close... "how can you even suggest that? I love her, she is a part of me and a huge blessing in my life" Exactly", replies the doctor... "so is the baby you are carrying". Think about it!!!

i think they better not abott,most people r looking for babies,let them take the baby for adoption.what if it is the only baby in her life.u can find that she married a wealthy man and fail to bear a child,it,s not were the divorce started?Guys please,what if MANDELA,S mother has aborted him,who will b our first BLACK PRESIDENT?iI say no to abortion.

Jeremiah 1:5 "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations." PLEASE DO NOT KILL THAT BABY!