For immediate release:  
Wednesday, November 30, 2005                                     

 For more information:
Megan Dillon
(202) 626-8825
mediarelations@nrlc.org 

NRLC Available for Comment at Supreme Court on
Ayotte vs. Planned Parenthood  

Today, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear Planned Parenthood's challenge to an effective law ensuring parental notification when a minor girl seeks to obtain an abortion.  Pro-abortion groups assert that the New Hampshire parental notification law does not provide an exception for medical emergency of minor girls.  In truth, this law does not prevent emergency medical attention for minor girls.

"The recent claim made by pro-abortion activists that the law doesn't contain a medical emergency exception is a red herring," stated Mary Balch, NRLC director of State Legislation.  "When a minor daughter confronts a medical emergency, she needs her parents most. As knowledgeable doctors have briefed the Supreme Court, an immediate abortion would not be appropriate treatment for any non-life threatening complication of pregnancy."

This law does not preclude a doctor from treating any medical emergencies and does contain an exception allowing immediate abortions for life threatening medical emergencies.  In other situations, a parent of the minor girl would have to be notified or a judicial by-pass obtained before an abortion is performed.

Parental involvement is a reasonable requirement supported by 69% of Americans according to a November 2005 Gallup poll.

James Bopp, NRLC general counsel and Mary Balch, director of State Legislation will be available for comment outside the Supreme Court, immediately following oral arguments.

In addition to NRLC representatives, Phyllis Woods, a primary sponsor of the New Hampshire parental notification law, and Teresa Collett, an attorney representing New Hampshire legislators in an amicus brief, will be available for comment.

National Right to Life is the nation's largest pro-life organization, with 50 state affiliates and approximately 3,000 local affiliates nationwide. NRLC works through legislation and education to protect those threatened by abortion, infanticide, euthanasia, and assisted suicide.