Most young women talk with at least one parent when facing an unintended pregnancy.  But some young women feel for various reasons-including abuse, rape or incest-that they cannot tell a parent that they are pregnant.  Of course, most parents hope their daughters will seek out their advice, but responsible parents want, above all, for their daughters to be safe.  Restrictions on young women's access to abortion care can lead to family violence when a young woman must tell an abusive parent about her decision to end a pregnancy, and can delay young women from seeking earlier, safer abortion care, thus putting their health at risk.

Wisconsin Law

Wisconsin law restricts young women's access to abortion. One parent must provide consent for a young woman under the age of 18 to receive an abortion. Consent can also be provided by a grandparent, aunt, uncle or sibling who is at least 25 years old.  In order to obtain consent, the attending physician must secure voluntary and informed consent of one parent or adult family member. 

While the restriction does allow young women to petition a court for a judicial bypass, the ability of vulnerable teens to navigate the legal system makes these restrictions all the more burdensome.

Rape or incest exception

Parental consent may be waived if the young woman is a victim of rape or incest.  The young woman must provide the physician with a written and signed statement that the pregnancy is the result of sexual assault or sexual intercourse with a caregiver.  The physician must place the statement in her medical record and report the sexual assault.

Child abuse exception

Parental consent may be waived if the young woman is a victim of child abuse.  The young woman must provide the physician with a written and signed statement that a parent or adult family member has abused her and the physician places the statement in her medical record and reports the abuse.

Health exception

Parental consent may be waived if the young woman's health is threatened.  The physician must determine that a medical emergency exists, defined as a medical condition of the young woman that necessitates an immediate abortion to preserve her life or for which delay will create "serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of one or more of the woman's major bodily functions."

Mental health exception

Parental consent may be waived if a psychiatrist or psychologist states in writing that he or she believes, to the best of his or her professional judgment, that the young woman is likely to commit suicide rather than file a judicial bypass petition or approach her parent for consent.