Planned Parenthood Ohio Affiliates Condemn Signing of SB 260, Latest Attack on Abortion Access

For Immediate Release – January 9, 2021
PPAO/PPGOH Contact: Laurel Powell, [email protected]
PPSWO Contact: Maya McKenzie, [email protected]

Planned Parenthood Ohio Affiliates Condemn Signing of SB 260, Latest Attack on Abortion Access

COLUMBUS, OH — Days after signing Senate Bill 27 and placing new, burdensome requirements on patients who have abortions, Gov. Mike DeWine signed into law Senate Bill 260, a dangerous restriction on the use of telehealth in medication abortion that goes against best medical practices.  

S.B. 27 invades the privacy of Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio and Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio Region’s patients, by forcing those who have decided to make the personal decision to have an abortion to bury, or cremate and then bury, the fetal tissue. It imposes further costs on those seeking abortions, adds further onerous regulation on abortion providers, and stands to have a chilling effect on abortion access in the state.

S.B. 260 bans the use of telemedicine in prescribing medication abortions, forcing patients to travel farther to access care and exposing patients and providers alike to further danger from the coronavirus pandemic, which Gov. DeWine refuses to bring under control. S.B. 260 was passed through the Ohio House just minutes before another bill which expanded telemedicine access for other health care needs.

No matter our skin color, where we live or where we're from, when it comes to our health, we all want health care that keeps us safe, and Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio and Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio Region will continue fighting to make it accessible.

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

“Yet again, Ohio’s lawmakers and our Governor have used the lame duck legislative session to enact laws that attack abortion services in our state. Studies have repeatedly shown that the majority of Ohioans support safe, legal access to abortion care. This is an all too familiar ploy by lawmakers who repeatedly use the chaos of the lame duck session to restrict abortion access.  

The gerrymandered Republican majority in this state has one agenda: to put more roadblocks, whether they be in the form of additional cost, additional travel, or additional time in front of those who have made a deeply personal decision and want to exercise their right to control their bodies. We all should have that right without the interference of politicians. Extremist lawmakers who ignore evidence-based health care practices betray the trust of the public and should be held accountable at the ballot box.

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

“Senate Bill 27 is an absolutely heinous attempt to shame people who have already made the personal decision to have an abortion and Senate Bill 260 is just further proof that politicians in Ohio will stop at nothing to strip health care access from the people in this state. Just like every other outrageous roadblock set up against our patients from the state of Ohio, these bills have absolutely nothing to do with protecting patients or improving health care.

People in Ohio already face major hurdles when accessing reproductive health care, especially safe, legal abortion. The legislature should focus their attention on promoting laws that strengthen the health and rights of Ohioans and their families, especially in the middle of a pandemic, rather than stigmatizing and shaming people for their private medical decisions.” 

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Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio supports advocacy for reproductive health and reproductive rights, including grassroots organizing, community education, and lobbying.

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 people across Ohio. PPGOH serves approximately 63,000 patients annually throughout Ohio including metropolitan areas in Toledo, Akron, Canton, Youngstown, Mansfield, Cleveland, Columbus, and Athens. 

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 five 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.