論未成年人人工流產之法定代理人同意權

Abstract

墮胎的要件及合法性問題向來是引致許多社會團體意見分歧的重大爭議，而當墮胎的主體為未成年少女時，其造成的反彈聲浪就更為明顯。我國現行《優生保健法》第9條第2項規定未成年人接受人工流產必須經過法定代理人同意的規定，自制定以來並未受到過多討論與質疑，惟近年由婦女團體及行政院衛福部所提出的修法草案卻開放了例外得由法院裁定的規定，顯示法定代理人同意權制度的正當性基礎正面臨挑戰與鬆動。 本文透過分別從「家長」及「未成年人」的角度分析法定代理人同意權的可能基礎，及概覽其他法領域對於法定代理人制度目的的想像，試圖觀察父母子女關係的意義與內涵發生如何的轉變，法定代理人同意權制度又是如何穩固地奠基在傳統的家長權、近代的兒少權利論述與自由主義之上。其次，本文試圖從刑法自身的目的出發，說明個人決策的效力僅能以其自主性為斷，僅有在個人欠缺自我負責的條件時，始有透過扶助體制加以介入的正當性。具體而言，本文認為自主性的條件包含認識判斷能力與基本的自我控制能力，而未成年人的人工流產程序也必須對應於這兩個要件的具備或欠缺而有相應的制度設計，不應一概地預設未成年人欠缺自主條件，而以完全壓抑自主行使可能的法定代理人同意權作為唯一合法的程序要件。

Abortion has long been a highly contentious issue, sparking intense debate among diverse social groups. This controversy is particularly amplified when the issue involves underage girls. The Genetic Health Act in Taiwan currently mandates that minors obtain parental consent before undergoing an abortion. While this provision has faced little scrutiny since its inception, recent legislative proposals from women's groups and the Ministry of Health and Welfare challenge this requirement by introducing judicial oversight as an alternative. This article examines the underpinnings of parental consent for abortion from both parental and minor perspectives, and explores how legal systems conceptualize guardianship. By tracing the evolution of the parent-child relationship, the article demonstrates how parental consent has been rooted in traditional parental authority, contemporary child rights discourse, and liberal principles. Furthermore, it argues that the efficacy of individual decision-making hinges on autonomy, as criminal law principles suggest. Intervention is justified only when an individual lacks the competence for moral responsibility. Autonomy, the article posits, encompasses the cognitive capacity and basic self-control. Accordingly, abortion procedures for minors should be tailored to their individual capacities for autonomy rather than imposing a blanket requirement for parental consent.