Abortion – Parental Consent
- Jan 1, 2006 -
After seven years of court battles over a 1998 law passed by Ohio’s legislature requiring girls under 18 years of age to obtain parental consent before an abortion, the U.S. District Court in Cincinnati has ruled that the law is constitutional. The law also requires a woman seeking an abortion to meet with a doctor at least 24 hours before the procedure to obtain a description of the procedure, the risks involved, and what alternatives are available.
The lawsuit was originally filed by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of Cincinnati Women’s Services, an abortion provider. The law now goes into effect immediately unless a higher court suspends it if an appeal is filed.
Judge Sandra Beckwith said in her opinion, “Plaintiffs’ evidence does not demonstrate that H.B. 421 imposes undue burdens on the abortion right even when viewed in a highly deferential manner.” Judge Beckwith allowed the law to stand even though she said it might prevent some women or girls from getting an abortion.
“Court: Abortion Law Requiring Parental Consent Is Constitutional”:http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBU55TXDDE.html, (AP on Tampa Bay Online), September 9, 2005
The Missouri state Senate has passed a bill that would help reduce the number of abortions by helping parents protect their teenage daughters and increasing women’s safety. The House is expected to pass the measure by a lopsided margin.
Some legislators tried to gut the bill by offering amendments but these failed. As the bill now stands, it provides two key measures:
- The bill prevents adults other than a minor girl’s parents from transporting her across state lines to avoid parental consent laws in Missouri.
- The bill also requires an abortion practitioner to have admitting privileges in a local hospital within 30 miles of the abortion facility.
One abortion facility, Hope Clinic in Granite City, Illinois, targets teenage girls from Missouri. Illinois has no parental consent law. One mother, Shawn Reagan of Wood River, plead with the staff of Hope Clinic to allow her to speak to her 14-year-old daughter who was in the facility at the time for an abortion. They steadfastly refused. Though the Missouri law will not affect Illinois law, Mrs. Reagan hopes that Illinois will pass a parental consent law.
Steven Ertelt, “Missouri Senate Approves Bill to Reduce Abortions, Protect Women”:http://www.lifenews.com/state1190.html, (LifeNews.com), September 9, 2005