Illinois bill targets privacy for abortion care records

Zoom in: Lawmakers have had extensive conversations with health care providers about potential risks associated with segregating information about past abortion care, state Rep. Mary Beth Canty tells Axios.

• Canty says that post-abortion health issues present like — and can be treated as — a miscarriage, so patients wouldn't feel forced to share that they received an abortion to get the treatment they needed.

Zoom out: The bill also protects the records of patients who have been diagnosed with gender dysmorphia. Canty says this could be necessary in child custody cases, for example, if one parent accuses a co-parent of being unfit if that parent allowed their child to receive gender-affirming care.

The other side: Opponents of the bill include groups like the Illinois Family Institute, which oppose legislation that supports reproductive rights.

What's next: Lawmakers expect the bill to go to committee next week.