Abortion Care That is 100% Legal.

Sadly, due to the US Supreme Court reversal of Roe vs Wade and the subsequent bans enacted upon women's bodies, some of Women's Choice's patients are traveling to us from states where abortion is now banned. These women are often understandably concerned and worried that they may be breaking the law and could face possible legal consequences in their state if they have an abortion. This Web Page is written to address this issue for our patients concerned about legal issues. So, for the many women who live in a state where abortion is banned and who may choose to travel to Women's Choice to obtain abortion care, this page is for you.

First, elective abortion is still 100% completely legal in the State of Illinois. So any abortion you obtain in Illinois is legal. The laws of your home state do not apply when you cross the state line into Illinois. If you live in a state where abortion is banned, you do not need to fear that you are somehow breaking the law by traveling to Illinois to obtain a legal abortion. And, to be clear, it is perfectly legal for you to travel from your state to Illinois for an abortion.

Here are the answers to some the legal FAQs that some of our patients have asked:

1. Is it legal for me to travel to Illinois for an abortion? Yes! The answer to this question is a resounding yes. No state can bar you from traveling to another state. This is established in the US Constitution. The question of inter-state travel is a well-settled legal issue that was fully resolved in the 1700s. One state cannot bar inter-state travel to another state. You don't need a Visa or a Passport to visit Illinois. You don't need to pay a border tax to cross state lines into Illinois or any other US state. And you don't need to go through Customs. Inter-state travel is fully protected in the US constitution. Tourists come to Illinois every day for pleasure, with no restrictions whatsoever.


2. Is my care in Illinois subject to abortion bans in my home state? Absolutely not. Let's say you are traveling from, say for example, Tennessee. Just as Illinois cannot impose Illinois laws upon actions in Tennessee, likewise, Tennessee cannot impose its abortion ban laws in Illinois. When you are in Illinois, Illinois law rules. That is true regardless of your home state. It is true for all 50 states.


3. If I live in a state where abortion is banned, how do I protect myself from being charged with breaking my state's abortion ban laws? The answer to this is simple, here's what you can do:
A. Drive to the Women's Choice office in Cairo, Illinois.
B. Have your consultations and care in Illinois
C. Receive your care in Women's Choices offices in Illinois from a Illinois-licensed clinician.
F. Go home.
G. Keep your trip and the abortion private and confidential.

That's it. Everything you did for the abortion happened in Illinois, where abortion is completely legal. Not in your home state. You did not break the law in your home state or in Illinois. To avoid questioning, however, we recommend following up with Women's Choice or another Illinois-licensed physician for post-abortion care and treatment of any problems - where your care was completely legal.


4. What if I have a complication and have to go to an emergency room in my home state where abortion is illegal? Will I get arrested? First of all, this is extremely rare. And if you are having any problems, call us first. We will take care of you. However, if you do go do an ER, you should not, theoretically, have any problems because your care in Illinois was legal. That said, we cannot promise that some overly aggressive, anti-abortion prosecutor might not try to make an example of you. Therefore, our advice would be that you do not breathe a word to them about the abortion. Just say you started bleeding, and that you think you are having a miscarriage. Leave it at that. What you said is true. You are not lying. You did start bleeding. And you are having a miscarriage. If you don't mention why you are having a miscarriage, they won't be able to tell - and it usually won't make any difference in your treatment. The doctors in the ER cannot tell the difference between a natural miscarriage or a drug-induced miscarriage. They are both miscarriages. So, mum's the word. Just don't mention the abortion pills or the trip to Illinois, and you will not be subject to any further questioning. Ultimately, if someone found out that you traveled to Illinois for a medication-abortion, you should be found not guilty of an illegal abortion. Because your care was perfectly legal. But why put yourself through questioning and/or a legal process? The medications you took are a private matter, and we recommend keeping it that way.


5. If I tell someone in my home state that I had an abortion, can they report me to the police? Yes. Anyone can report anyone to the police for a suspected crime. You can't stop them. And they are not breaking the law by making such a report. And if they DO make a complaint against you alleging an illegal abortion, then the police are obligated by law to conduct an investigation of the complaint. Hopefully, all that will happen is that you would be subject to questioning by the police. But, for these reasons, it might be prudent not to talk too much about your abortion. Even though it is perfectly legal. Just because it was legal, doesn't protect you from accusation and questioning. It should, however, ultimately protect you from conviction. But why go there? Just keep it private and confidential.


6. Are my records at Women's Choice confidential?Yes. Women's Choice's records are completely private.