COLUMBUS – Ohio abortion clinics have sued the state over a new law that would ban abortions as early as six weeks into a woman’s…
COLUMBUS – Ohio abortion clinics have sued the state over a new law that would ban abortions as early as six weeks into a woman’s pregnancy.
The ACLU of Ohio, as promised, filed a complaint in federal court in Cincinnati Wednesday arguing Ohio’s „heartbeat bill“ signed April 11 by Gov. Mike DeWine is unconstitutional. The complaint was filed in the U. S. District Court of Southern Ohio on behalf of Preterm-Cleveland, Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio Region and four other Ohio abortion providers.
Senate Bill 23 prohibits abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected – as early as six weeks gestation with a transvaginal ultrasound or about ten weeks with an abdominal ultrasound. The law makes no exception for rape or incest but does allow abortion to prevent the woman’s death or permanent injury to a major bodily function.
The law, named the Human Rights and Heartbeat Protection Act, takes effect July 11.
Chrisse France, executive director of Preterm, said the law effectively bans all abortion in Ohio.
“It tells women their personal decisions do not matter. It tells them that their futures do not matter,” France said at a news conference announcing the lawsuit. “It tells them that their past traumas do not matter and it tells them that they do not matter.
