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Ohio lawmakers are considering another restriction on abortion

Statehouse News Bureau

An Ohio House committee is considering yet another abortion bill – one that would require doctors to provide life-saving care if a fetus is possibly viable after an abortion. But opponents of the bill say it isn’t needed.

Abortion rights advocates like Dr. Erika Boothman of Columbus say the bill is a solution in search of a crisis to resolve. She says current state law already makes it illegal for a doctor to perform an abortion at 20 weeks of pregnancy or later.

“This doesn’t happen. This is really attempting to address a non-existent problem,” Boothman says.

Boothman says the law would instead affect women who are facing devasting news about difficult pregnancies.

But Ohio Right to Life is backing the Senate-passed plan, saying it will ensure no baby that survives an abortion will be denied life-saving care.

The Ohio Senate passed the bill last month. The bill also makes some changes to transfer agreement variances that could make it harder for abortion clinics to get them.

Copyright 2021 The Statehouse News Bureau. To see more, visit The Statehouse News Bureau.

Jo Ingles is a professional journalist who covers politics and Ohio government for the Ohio Public Radio and Television for the Ohio Public Radio and Television Statehouse News Bureau. She reports on issues of importance to Ohioans including education, legislation, politics, and life and death issues such as capital punishment.