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[donough]

Would he be responsible for medical, costs for missing work, and recovery time? And you want the law giving him the rights to the fetus, the reason abortion is legal is a fetus is not recognized as a person, so he would have the rights to the fetus, what happens if he doesn't want rights to the baby (was just trying to prevent the abortion), and it ends up in the system? What if the mother changes her mind in the middle of the pregnancy and wants to be a mother, would she not be allowed? See, there are way to many "what ifs" in this law. To much government intervention. It's a difficult situation, but I couldn't see this kind of law making things better.

[chason62]

Men have zero legal rights in this matter.

And if dad DOES step in, he should also take full custody and then ask Mom for child support.

EDIT: I have my son due to this situation. Mom wasn't interested in keeping the baby, but I wanted him. She wanted to abort, and I made a deal with her. We had it done with a judge. She has since walked away and never has seen her son after his birth. She signed away her rights, so she has no legal responsibility or rights to him. As time has passed, and I've heard more and more stories about men who have wanted to be fathers but the woman aborted instead (more than one occasion it was out of spite), I've realized how lucky I was.

[ingel]

In a perfect world, yes, fathers would be recognized as just as equal as the mother in the decision making process. They are, after all, 50% responsible for that fetus, just as the mother is.

But I have to agree with what others have stated here: it's just not realistic to impose such a law, because ultimately it is the woman who must carry the child, and for the nine months that she is pregnant, she is the one who must care for that child. Can we, as a government, force someone to care for a child they do not want? I don't think that's right., nor do I think that someone who is being forced to incubate a child against her will would be a particularly attentive "care-giver" to that unborn fetus.

[ricki]

Honestly, i would hate to force a woman to carry a child that she doesn't want for 9 months. Really think about it for a second... If she is willing to abort, she most likely holds no care for or emotional attachment to that child. Resentment will probably grow for that child. And this is the woman who will have full power over that child while it's in the womb -- whatever she does...eats, drinks, takes, does...will affect that child. If she doesn't care about that child and knows that she won't have anything to do with that child after the birth, what's to stop her from being completely care less during the pregnancy? Personally, i wouldn't want to risk it.


Ultimately, it's the mother's choice...it's her body and 9 months of her life that she'll have to give up. It truly sucks for a father. But there are great risks associated with forcing a woman who doesn't want the child to continue with the pregnancy.

[amdt57]

First off, I do not believe in abortion. I think if you are "responsible" enough to have sex, you should be responsible enough for birth control. Even rape, there IS the morning after pill. With that said, I also do not believe in policing a womans body, I think it is her say. BUT, and I am sure I will get many thumbs down for this- you need a man to make a child. It is half him and I do believe he gets half the say. In this instance, except rape- a man should get zero say if he rapes a woman. Regardless, if a female is willing to have sex with a man, then she should be willing to let him have a decision also. Especially if he is willing to assume responsibility for the child.

[tai38]

First off, I do not believe in abortion. I think if you are "responsible" enough to have sex, you should be responsible enough for birth control. Even rape, there IS the morning after pill. With that said, I also do not believe in policing a womans body, I think it is her say. BUT, and I am sure I will get many thumbs down for this- you need a man to make a child. It is half him and I do believe he gets half the say. In this instance, except rape- a man should get zero say if he rapes a woman. Regardless, if a female is willing to have sex with a man, then she should be willing to let him have a decision also. Especially if he is willing to assume responsibility for the child.

Oh wow...this is extremely difficult.

I am pro-choice, so I do believe that a woman has the right to decide whether or not to carry a baby to term.

I think in a situation like this, a judge would have to decide if the father was able to provide for the child. If the judge deemed the man suitable for parenthood, then the man, the woman and the judge would all need to sign a legally binding contract that states that as soon as the child is born full custody is given to the father, and the mother must pay child support.

That would be no different that a man who runs out on his baby and that baby's mother. He would have to pay child support, even if he didn't have full custody. Same rules should apply both ways.