Support the Illinois Reproductive Health Act

What is at stake for every woman in Illinois?

The following are currently enjoined Illinois laws that AGAIN could become OUR law when Roe is overturned:*

• Spousal Consent – A married woman will be REQUIRED to get her husband’s consent to get an abortion. (Enjoined in Wynn v. Scott, 449 F. Supp. 1302 (N.D. Ill. 1978), aff’d sub nom., Wynn v. Carey, 599 F. 2d 193 (7th Cir. 1979)
• Doctor Consent Committees – Women will have to BEG multiple doctors to gain their approval in order to obtain an abortion, reminiscent of the degrading pre-Roe hospital consent committees. (Enjoined in Wynn.)
• Restrictions on certain forms of birth control (Enjoined in Charles v. Carey, 627 F.2d. 772 (7th Cir. 1980).)
• 24 Hour Waiting Periods – Abortion will be the ONLY medical procedure with a dangerous and unnecessary mandated waiting period. (Enjoined in Charles.)
• Misinformed Consent – Doctors will be required to read INFLAMMATORY anti-choice propaganda that has no scientific or medical basis, such as falsely asserting that abortion causes breast cancer, to every woman seeking an abortion. (Enjoined in Charles.)
• Hospital Requirement and other TRAP laws – Despite abortion being SAFER than nearly all other outpatient medical procedures and the abortion pill being as safe as an Advil or Tylenol, all abortions will be required to be performed in hospital settings at extraordinary expense. (Enjoined in Ragsdale litigation, 941 F.2d 501 (7th Cir. 1991).)
• No Confidentiality – Patient confidentiality will not be protected as abortion REPORTING requirements sought by anti-choice groups to harass and intimidate women will be in force. (Enjoined in Wynn, Charles and Herbst litigation.)
• Bans assisted reproductive techniques, such as in vitro, and certain forms of prenatal testing (Enjoined in Lifchez v. Hartigan, 735 F. Supp. 1361 (N.D. Ill. 1990).)
• Criminal Penalties – Doctors will face NUMEROUS criminal penalties for performing an abortion. (The Illinois Abortion Law of 1975, as amended multiple times, treats reproductive health services as criminal acts and imposes criminal penalties on doctors.)
• In Addition – Private insurance companies, that freely cover VIAGRA and other male enhancement drugs and procedures, will be free to deny coverage for abortion care and birth control, even when a woman’s health is threatened or she is a victim of rape or incest. The future of HB 40 will be put into question.

Why Support the RHA?

What does it mean to support the RHA? 

• You agree that a woman’s health must drive important medical decisions during pregnancy.
• You agree that a woman should be able to make all of her own decisions about prenatal care, medical interventions, and the circumstances under which she gives birth. This includes decisions like whether to have an induction, epidural anesthesia, or cesarean surgery.
• You agree that reproductive health is a fundamental right—including using or refusing birth control.
• You agree that Illinois should treat reproductive health care as health care, not as a criminal act.

What does it mean to oppose the RHA? 

• Opposing this measure is putting Illinois women at risk of being harmed by the Trump Administration agenda that seeks to steal decision-making power away from women and their doctors.
• Opposing this measure is supporting antiquated laws that place doctors and women at risk of being charged criminally for seeking medical care.