OH Abortion Debate Update

An Ohio judge has blocked preemptive enforcement of a law…imposing additional requirements on consulting physicians at abortion clinics…requirements that abortion providers say threaten operations at two of the last clinics in the state. While the bill’s stated goal was to impose criminal penalties on doctors who fail to provide life-saving measures in rare instances, where abortion attempts are unsuccessful, it also included additional restrictions on clinic operations. Yesterday…a judge barred the Ohio Department of Health from enforcing the law before it takes effect on March 23. A hearing on whether the law will be blocked after that date, while a legal challenge proceeds, is scheduled for March 16. The ACLU and two southwest Ohio clinics argue that compliance with the law will be onerous and impede Ohio women’s access to their right to an abortion. Under Ohio law, all ambulatory surgical facilities must have a written transfer agreement with a local hospital in case of emergency.