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Your editorial urging repeal of Illinois’ parental notification for abortion law — which requires girls age 17 and younger seeking an abortion to notify a parent or get approval from a judge to bypass the requirement — dwells on the handful of problems that young women have encountered, without mentioning the law’s benefits. There are two that stand out
First, fathers are often in a position to help their pregnant teenage daughters. In my family law practice, I represent many fathers whose presence in their daughters’ lives is unfortunately limited. But these men, if they knew about their daughter’s predicament, would try to help — possibly with adoption or even helping to raise the child, but certainly with support throughout the pregnancy. An informed father might even retain legal counsel to identify his daughter’s impregnator and secure child support, even if it’s only a small amount.