Parental Notification Required in Illinois

According to the Associated Press, Illinois has recently supported a law that requires parental notification for teenagers seeking abortion services. Individuals under the age of 18 are required to notify their parents, or a judge (which seems like a pretty weird scenario in my head), before seeking an abortion. This legal battle has evidently been going on for 14 years.

Like other restrictions on access to abortion, this piece of legislation will keep some girls who are seeking abortions to not get them. The advocates of the law said that this law would decrease the number of abortions in the state (no kidding, geniuses).

Having a girl who is freaked out about being pregnant, being talked out of it by her parents, and then having to carry on with an unwanted pregnancy is really considerate. Oh, and having girls who are afraid of talking to their parents try to obtain abortions through less than legal means is also really awesome.

The last time I checked, people under the age of 18 are usually capable of making decisions. The law should not use the social stigma of abortion and fear of open communication with parents to limit a service that women not only have the legal right to get, but will get regardless of legality.

Photo courtesy of www.flickr/flysi