After the Republicans took control of the Illinois House in 1914 election, State Rep. Maureen Murphy (R-Evergreen Park took as one of our highest priorities the testing of pregnant women for HIV.
If a woman knew she was HIV-infected, there was treatment that would keep her baby safe.
The AIDS Foundation of Chicago opposed the bill, contending it would violate the pregnant woman’s privacy.
To our astonishment, we lost in committee, when some liberal Republicans voted against the bill.
Now comes a proposal to require testing of pregnant woman for syphilis upon their first exam and in the third semester.
The bill passed and was signed into law.
Its an initiative aimed at improving access to potentially life-saving medication.
Same motivation as Murphy’s, but with rational results.
