© 2024 WNIJ and WNIU
Northern Public Radio
801 N 1st St.
DeKalb, IL 60115
815-753-9000
Northern Public Radio
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
WNIJ's summary of news items around our state.

Governor Gets Legislation To Change Illinois' 'Right Of Conscience' Law

"Electronic Stethescope" By Flickr User Ted Eytan / (CC BY 2.0)

The Illinois legislature has sent the governor legislation amending the state law that decides when doctors can object to caring for a patient based on moral principle.

  

Now, the right of conscience law says medical providers who don't want to give reproductive services -- like prescribing birth control or performing an abortion -- don't have to. That won't change. But lawmakers say a doctor must give a patient information on where to get those services.

It came about after a Chicago resident says a Catholic hospital told her that her second child had severe problems and wouldn't live. But the hospital refused to help her end the pregnancy, or give information on where to go for care. The woman reportedly suffered through a dangerous miscarriage. 

Senator Toi Hutchinson, a Democrat from Olympia Fields, says government shouldn’t have a role in the bedroom, or the doctor's office.

"In the course of medical care, I have the right to make my own decisions about how I will proceed next between me, my husband and my God,” Hutchinson said.

Critics of the legislation say it's wrong to force medical providers who object to abortions to help women get one, by giving them information on providers. ?