Government
Illinois abortion notification law on hold
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Nov. 30, 2009
An Illinois trial court temporarily blocked enforcement of the state's abortion parental notification law on Nov. 4, the day it was set to take effect.
The statute requires physicians to notify a minor's parent or guardian at least 48 hours before performing the procedure. Doctors found in violation of the law risk losing their licenses.
Abortion-rights advocates suing over the law contended that it was unconstitutional, largely because a set of rules allowing minors to bypass parental notification through the courts do not adequately protect their rights to privacy and abortion access. State officials argued that the law provided adequate protection and was intended to help minors make more informed medical decisions.
The state medical board had delayed initial enforcement of the law in August over concerns that doctors were not prepared for the new rules. Now a Cook County Circuit Court has put the law on hold while the case, Hope Clinic v. Adams, is being litigated. The state has asked the court to dismiss the suit. A preliminary hearing was set for Nov. 19.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/11/30/gvbf1130.htm.
