Some newspapers say this raises doubts about whether the girl was "mature" enough to make the decision without her mother being informed. There was a lot of moralising about a nanny state that has taken away the rights of parents.
There's no doubt it was a shocking and frightening dilemma for Melissa, but there can be few women of any age who have been in this situation who haven't had second thoughts.
Most of the newspapers' outrage was heaped onto a health outreach worker at The Brunts School in Mansfield, which Melissa attended. The worker in question, Claire Chapman, works for Mansfield District Primary Care Trust and gives confidential advice to young people in schools and Connexions centres.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
