BREAKING: Planned Parenthood Sues Ohio to Protect Abortion Access for Ohioans
For Immediate Release: Feb. 15, 2019
Cincinnati, OH — Today, Planned Parenthood and Women’s Med Center of Dayton filed another lawsuit to protect Ohioans’ access to safe legal abortion. In December, anti-abortion politicians in the state legislature passed, and former Governor John Kasich signed, Senate Bill 145, which bans a safe and medically-preferred method of second-trimester abortion, and therefore would block doctors from being able to make medical decisions based on what is best for their patients. This lawsuit seeks to block that legislation. Major medical organizations like the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists oppose this type of ban, noting, “these restrictions represent legislative interference at its worst: doctors will be forced, by ill-advised, unscientifically motivated policy, to provide lesser care to patients. This is unacceptable.”
Senate Bill 145 is part of a coordinated national strategy by anti-reproductive health politicians, who’ve passed more than 400 restrictions on abortion at the state level since 2010. In Ohio, under Gov. Kasich and Attorney General Mike DeWine, more than 20 abortion restrictions have been passed and signed into law. In that time, half the health centers that provide abortion in the state have closed. And just this week, anti-abortion politicians are showing their true motives behind these laws by introducing a six-week abortion ban that would ban abortion in Ohio before most women know they’re pregnant. With Justice Brett Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court and Trump in the White House, anti-abortion politicians are pursuing dangerous and radical policies in an attempt to overturn Roe v. Wade and ban abortion entirely. This demonstrates the need to push for policies in states that not only protect, but also expand access to reproductive health care.
Statement from Dr. Leana Wen, President, Planned Parenthood Federation of America:
“As a doctor, I know how important it is for patients to work with their doctors to choose the best medical procedure for their individual medical situation. Medical decision-making must be free from political interference. This ban has no basis in medicine - it is opposed by medical organizations and will cause harm to women in Ohio. Abortion is part of the full spectrum of reproductive health care, which is health care, and Planned Parenthood will always safeguard the ability of our patients to access safe, legal abortion, no matter what.
Statement from Iris E. Harvey, President and CEO, Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio:
“Ohioans have a right to work with their doctors and choose the best medical procedure for them without interference from Ohio lawmakers. The method ban compromises medical decision-making, undermines patients’ constitutional right to access safe, legal abortion, and dangerously limits people’s options. Planned Parenthood will continue doing everything we can to ensure medical providers can deliver the safest medical procedures and that Ohioans have access to the full slate of reproductive health care that includes safe, legal abortion.
Statement from Kersha Deibel, President and CEO, Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio Region:
“Ohio lawmakers have once again compromised the health and safety of the women they were elected to represent. Limiting the options available to medical professionals is not only foolish, it’s dangerous. The law we challenge today is just another blatant attempt to ban safe, legal abortion one restriction at a time. For our patients, it’s not about politics, it’s about their health and their lives. We’re prepared to fight back, on all fronts, whenever politicians compromise a woman’s ability to receive the care she needs.”
Ohio’s Method Ban Is Dangerous, Unconstitutional Policy:
Ohio’s method ban serves no medical purpose and imperils women’s health by preventing doctors from making the best decisions for their patients. Instead, the sole purpose of the law is to restrict access. This law would ban the safest method of abortion for women obtaining abortions after approximately 15 weeks of pregnancy. Restrictions to abortion are hardest on people who already face barriers to health care — including people of color, immigrants, young people, people with disabilities, those in rural areas, and people with low-incomes.
The Supreme Court has made it clear that these types of punitive restrictions on abortion access are blatantly unconstitutional. In its Whole Woman’s Health v Hellerstedt decision, the Court held that abortion restrictions must clear a very high constitutional bar, and that laws designed to cut off abortion access or burden women are unconstitutional and must be struck down. Nine other states including Texas, Louisiana, Kansas and Oklahoma have passed similar laws. Every court to have considered a similar ban has ruled it unconstitutional.
The plaintiffs—Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio Region, Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio, and Women’s Med Group Professional Corporation —are represented by Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr, as well as the Cincinnati-based firm Gerhardstein & Branch and lawyers from Planned Parenthood Federation of America.
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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.