Ohio to Become Sixth State to Ban Abortion Before Many People Know They’re Pregnant

Planned Parenthood Federation of America
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio
Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio Region 

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, April 10, 2019

Contact: Planned Parenthood Media Office, 212-261-4519, [email protected]

 

Ohio to Become Sixth State to Ban Abortion Before Many People Know They’re Pregnant

Columbus, OH – Today, amidst large protests at the statehouse, the Ohio General Assembly passed Senate Bill 23, the dangerous six-week abortion ban. Once it is signed by Governor Mike DeWine, Ohio will be the sixth state to ban abortion before many people know that they’re pregnant. This law has no exceptions for cases of rape or incest and threatens felony charges to doctors who provide care to patients. This becomes the 22nd restriction to reproductive health care in Ohio that has been enacted since 2011. Ohio is one of 16 states to introduce a six-week ban, revealing a 63% uptick in these types of abortion bans this year. 

 

This attack comes two weeks after the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a law that bars Planned Parenthood from funding programs that provide essential health services and education and after a temporary injunction was placed on bill that seeks to ban the dilation and evacuation procedure, which is the most common second trimester abortion procedure, to prevent it from being enforced. It’s clear that politicians will stop at nothing to ban abortion in Ohio.

Statement from Iris E. Harvey, President and CEO, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio:

“We need to call a spade a spade. Senate Bill 23 is Ohio’s most hostile abortion ban – it effectively outlaws abortion in Ohio, stripping Ohioans of access to safe, legal abortion.

“The State of Ohio is already in court, wasting taxpayer dollars to fight several costly lawsuits against other dangerous and unconstitutional abortion bans. Why continue to pursue this extreme ideological crusade when Ohio is in the midst of a public health crisis? Addressing Ohio’s rampant infant and maternal mortality rates and creating equitable access to health care is what they should be focusing on.

“It’s unconscionable that Ohio lawmakers continue to use people’s health care as a political pawn in their national strategy to ban safe, legal abortion. We will stand against the onslaught of attacks on Ohioans and will use everything at our disposal to protect their access to safe, legal abortion.”

Statement from Dr. Leana Wen, President of Planned Parenthood Federation of America:

“Ohio’s six-week ban is a dangerous policy designed to block abortion access before many women even know they’re pregnant. This is yet another attack we are seeing on the health and well-being of the residents of Ohio. Just two weeks ago, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a law that bans Planned Parenthood from programs that provide life-saving services including STD and HIV tests, breast and cervical cancer screenings, and domestic violence education, as well as the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies program aimed at reducing maternal and infant mortality. These actions will roll back gains to public health and harm women’s health and the health of families across Ohio. Planned Parenthood will not back down from this fight. Our patients in Ohio and across the country deserve the right to control their own body, life, and future, no matter where they live or how much money they make.”

 

Statement from Kersha Deibel, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio Region:

“Politicians in the Ohio State Legislature just passed one of the most extreme abortion bans in the entire country. And they’re not stopping there –– after years of passing anti-abortion laws under the guise of protecting patient health and safety, they lay bare their true motives: to ban abortion in the state of Ohio. Politicians have no right to dictate personal medical decisions. Make no mistake –– these bills punish women. When politicians attack health care, they disproportionately impact people of color, women, the LGBTQ community and young people. We must work to ensure access to health care does not depend on who you are, where you live, or how much money you make.”

 

### 

 

Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable health care for women, men, and young people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With more than 600 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect and without judgment. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable health information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives.

 

About Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio: The mission of Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio is to protect, promote, and provide empowered health care for generations of women, men, and families across Ohio. PPGOH serves approximately 65,000 patients annually throughout Ohio including metropolitan areas in Toledo, Akron, Canton, Youngstown, Mansfield, Cleveland, Columbus, and Athens. www.ppgoh.org.

 

About Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio Region: Serving 20 counties in southwestern Ohio and three in northern Kentucky, Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio strengthens the community by providing access to high quality health care and education that empower people to make informed private decisions about their reproductive lives and sexual health.  With seven health centers throughout the region, it is Planned Parenthood’s goal to provide reproductive health care services to any individual who wants or needs them, to advocate public policies which guarantee each individual's access to services, to advocate individual’s right to privacy and their ability to make reproductive decisions free of coercion and to provide human sexuality education which enhances the health and well-being of individuals in the community. Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio Region is an affiliate of Planned Parenthood Federation of America.