Should men have more choice when it comes to unintended pregnancy? In the US, the National Centre for Men is filling a lawsuit on behalf of Matt Dubay who has been ordered to pay child support for his ex-girlfriends daughter. Matt’s ex-girlfriend assured him she couldn’t get pregnant.
The gist of the argument: If a pregnant woman can choose among abortion, adoption or raising a child, a man involved in an unintended pregnancy should have the choice of declining the financial responsibilities of fatherhood. The activists involved hope to spark discussion even if they lose.
The National Centre for Men has been wanting to pursue a case like this since the early 1990’s, and they expect to lose.
It’s an interesting case this, as it’s not just about the rights of two adults, because a child is involved. An entire life, a whole future. It’s going to be a healthy discussion to raise some of the issues, especially because there are no simple clear cut answers.
“None of these are easy questions,” said Gandy, a former prosecutor. “But most courts say it’s not about what he did or didn’t do or what she did or didn’t do. It’s about the rights of the child.”
See CNN for the full article.