On July 14, 2009, a federal appeals court upheld the Illinois law that requires teen girls to notify their parents before having abortions.

“It’s about time the law was approved,” said Thomas Brejcha, president and chief counsel of the Thomas More Society, which fought to have the measure enforced. “It’s ridiculous that it took this long to get a decision.”

Lorie A. Chaiten of the American Civil Liberties Union, which battled to keep the law from going into effect, said the law “creates unnecessary, dangerous hurdles to accessing essential health care for young women facing an unintended pregnancy in the state of Illinois.”

The appeals court described the measure as “a permissible attempt to help a young woman make an informed choice about whether to have an abortion.” It does not require teens to get their parents’ consent, only to notify them beforehand.

I couldn’t agree more with this law.  I am a teen, and I understand that when faced with such a situation, it might be desirable to hide the condition from one’s parents.  But hiding such a life changing condition from a parent is the worst possible outcome.  First, a parent should know if their child is about to undergo any type of surgery.  It is peculiar that teens need parental consent to play softball but not to have an abortion.  Second, by involving a parent, a teen is more likely to consider all viable options.  Third, I can’t think of a time when a teen needs their parent’s love and support more, then when faced with an unwanted pregnancy.

I’m not sure how far reaching this law is.  But I hope other states take like measures.