IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT TOPIC:as you are all aware, the United States Supreme Court overturned the verdict from the 1973 Roe v. Wade case. As a result, women's reproductive rights are now determined by state law rather than federal law. The ethical decision-making case has to do with a minor who is pregnant and considering abortion. Your role is to identify the Illinois law regarding reproductive rights afforded to minors and discuss the ethical issues surrounding confidentiality with minors. Remember, laws and ethics do not always match, and sometimes there is a conflict that must be resolved. However, laws typically supersede ethics. Consider your values in the situation. Identify all possible options to resolve the dilemma, even if they initially seem unethical or illegal to you. Include all possible solutions and then discuss the pros and cons of each option, even options that you know you are not going to choose.

The Case of Candy:

Candy is a 14-year-old student sent to you because of her problematic behavior in the classroom. Her parents have recently separated, and Candy is having difficulty coping with the breakup. Eventually, she tells you that she is having sexual relations with her boyfriend without using any form of birth control.

You have been working with Candy for several sessions now, and she discovers that she is pregnant. Her boyfriend is 15 and declares that he is in no position to support her and a child. She has decided to have an abortion but feels anxious about following through with it.