Indiana Legislature Passes Cruel Anti-Abortion Omnibus
For Immediate Release: March 11, 2016
Washington, DC – The Indiana legislature passed an extreme anti-abortion omnibus (HB 1337) that targets women who may choose to end a pregnancy following diagnosis of a lethal fetal anomaly, in addition to numerous other abortion restrictions. The bill now goes to Governor Pence for signature or veto.
Statement from Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund:
“This cruel legislation goes to show why politicians have no place in a woman’s personal medical decisions about abortion. It’s disgraceful that politicians in Indiana want to shame a woman who may choose to end a pregnancy following diagnosis of a lethal fetal anomaly. As if that isn’t bad enough, this bill could compromise the privacy of all women in Indiana seeking safe, legal abortion. It is not our place to judge what any woman should do, least of all Governor Pence, which is why he must veto this callous bill.”
Statement from Patti Stauffer, vice president for public policy, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Indiana and Kentucky:
“We need to respect each woman’s ability to make the deeply personal decision to have an abortion and allow her to make this decision in accordance with her family, faith and her doctor. Medical experts have opposed this bill because it hurts women by blocking access to safe medical care. This bill is part of an effort from politicians to make abortion illegal in all cases, which is why Gov. Pence must veto it.”
Provisions in the anti-abortion omnibus include:
- This bill is particularly cruel in that it's designed to shame and demean a woman who is facing tragic circumstances with a lethal fetal anomaly. It would require a woman diagnosed with a lethal fetal anomaly to twice sign a form that she has been given information on perinatal hospice services and is foregoing such services and proceeding with an abortion -- both at the time of diagnosis and before the abortion.
- It could compromise women’s privacy by requiring women’s personal information to be submitted on paperwork to the state.