Colorado Abortionist Seeks To Cut Parents Out of Abortion Decisions in Lawsuit

The parents of minor children should not be informed of abortion decisions, according to a Colorado abortionist who has filed a lawsuit seeking to strike down the state’s parental notification law – claiming the law violates the Colorado Constitution.

But this case is about much more than just “abortion access” in a state that has long touted itself as an abortion haven. It’s a direct threat to the rights of parents and ignores well-documented dangers associated with abortion – especially for vulnerable girls.

No Constitutional Basis for Excluding Parents

In her complaint, abortionist Rebecca Cohen argues that Colorado’s parental-notification requirement violates a state-created abortion right. But she overlooks a critical fact: In Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the U.S. Supreme Court made it clear that the Constitution does not guarantee a right to abortion. That decision returned abortion policymaking to the states.

Meanwhile, the federal constitutional right of parents to direct their children’s upbringing – including decisions about medical care – remains fully intact. The Supreme Court has repeatedly affirmed this right in landmark cases, such as Pierce v. Society of Sisters and Wisconsin v. Yoder. Also, in Troxel v. Granville, the Court declared: “The liberty interest… [of] parents in the care, custody, and control of their children is perhaps the oldest of the fundamental liberty interests recognized by this Court.”

Federal courts have also made clear that this includes the right to make medical decisions for one’s child. As the Sixth Circuit put it: Parental rights encompass a fundamental right to make decisions concerning the medical care of their children.

In short, unless a parent is proven unfit, the government should not override a family’s ability to guide their child through serious and personal matters.

Colorado’s Law Is a Reasonable, Balanced Protection

Colorado’s parental-notification law doesn’t require a parent’s permission – just that they be informed 48 hours before their minor child undergoes an abortion. And the law provides a judicial bypass mechanism for minors who cannot (or do not want to for certain reasons) inform their parents. This framework has been upheld by courts across the country as a constitutionally sound way to balance the interests of minors, families, and the state. In fact, after Dobbs, states arguably have even more room to strengthen protections for children and families.

Abortion Is Not Safer Than Childbirth

The lawsuit claims abortion is safer than childbirth. But that claim is misleading and ignores the real risks of abortion.

As we’ve discussed before, studies show that women who have abortions are more likely to die prematurely, including by suicide. In a study, women listed the most significant issues that impacted them negatively after an abortion:

●Took a life/loss
● Depression
● Guilt/Remorse
● Self-hatred/anger at self/self-loathing/feelings of worthlessness/unworthy of love
● Shame
● Addiction, alcohol or drug abuse
● Regret
● Self-destructive behaviors including promiscuity, self-punishment, and poor choices
● Low self-esteem
● Anxiety/fear
● Suicidal/suicidal thoughts/wanting to die/self-harm/dangerous risks/suicidal attempts.

All of these factors contribute to the negative and even devastating effects of abortion.

Further,

• Over 70% of women felt pressure from others to get an abortion.
• 66% of women reported that their abortions violated their own values or preferences.

Cutting parents out of this equation increases the risk that vulnerable girls will be coerced or manipulated – by abusers, boyfriends, traffickers, or others who do not have their best interests at heart.

These numbers point to a painful reality: Abortion isn’t the safe, empowering choice it’s touted to be. And when parents are left in the dark, the risk of a young girl being pushed into a decision she may not fully understand or want only increases.

Claims of High Maternal Mortality Rates in States With Abortion Restrictions Debunked

Abortion advocates often claim that restricting abortion will lead to more maternal deaths. But the actual data tells a different story.

According to the CDC, the U.S. maternal mortality rate dropped sharply in 2023 – the first full year after Dobbs. It fell from 22.3 to 18.6 deaths per 100,000 live births, a 17% decline. That’s the first significant improvement in years, and it directly undercuts claims of a post-Dobbs crisis.

What’s more, recent research shows a split between states:

• In states without abortion bans, maternal health complications increased.
• In states with pro-life laws, those outcomes remained stable.

There’s no evidence that pro-life laws are harming maternal health. If anything, it’s the states with few or no protections that are seeing worse trends. That’s not the narrative abortion advocates want to tell – but it’s what the numbers show.

Colorado is an “Abortion Haven” – but at What Cost?

The complaint proudly describes Colorado as a “haven for abortion seekers” – even a state intentionally open to out-of-state minors seeking abortions without parental involvement. While the complaint presents this as a virtue, it opens the door to serious risks.

When a girl crosses state lines for a secret abortion, and no one notifies her parents, who’s looking out for her safety? What if she’s being abused, trafficked, or pressured?

The ACLJ has raised these concerns in court before. We’ve shown that abortion – especially when done in secret – is often used to cover up abuse:

• Traffickers and predators use abortion to erase evidence and keep victims under control.
• Abortion clinics have been caught failing to report clear signs of abuse.
• And minors impregnated by abusers may be forced into silence and secrecy.

By advertising itself as a no-questions-asked abortion hub, Colorado creates a blind spot that predators can exploit. What’s marketed as “safe access” quickly becomes a shield for exploitation. The infuriating irony is that the very arguments framed as “pro-woman” are enabling some of the worst abuses of women and girls.

Parents are responsible for their children’s health, emotional care, and moral guidance. They are responsible for their children’s well-being, including during times of crisis. Being notified about their child’s plan to have an abortion is not an intrusion – it is a basic part of fulfilling that responsibility, especially in one of the most life-altering situations a girl can face.

If this lawsuit succeeds, it won’t just impact Colorado families. It will open the door for minors to cross state lines for secret abortions – without their parents ever knowing. It will rob parents of the chance to protect their daughters in one of the most vulnerable and life-altering moments of their lives. That’s not just dangerous – it’s a heartbreaking betrayal of parental rights.