It is a woman’s constitutional right to choose whether to have an abortion. [1]  In the District of Columbia, minors have the right to make the decision to have an abortion without first notifying parents or receiving their consent. [2]

According to Maryland law, under most circumstances doctors must first notify the parents of a minor who has decided to have an abortion. This requirement is for notice only, and does not require parental consent.

Even the notification requirement can be waived in several situations.  First, effective notice isn’t needed if the minor doesn’t live with her parents and the doctor makes a reasonable but unsuccessful effort to track down the parents to tell them.  Notice is also unnecessary in two other situations. No notice is needed if the doctor performing the abortion believes the minor may be subjected to physical or emotional abuse if the parents are notified.  And no notice is needed if the doctor concludes notification would otherwise not be in the best interest of the minor (for example, where delaying the abortion in order to notify the parents may cause health-related problems).  Also, if the doctor believes the minor is mature enough to make an informed decision on her own about having an abortion, the doctor can go ahead without notifying the parents. [3]

[1] Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973) (Constitution protects privacy right of mother to make decisions about carrying the fetus and government may only intrude on that privacy to regulate the decision in later stages of pregnancy).

[2] 22 DCMR § 600.7(a).

[3] Md. Code, Health - General, § 20-103.