Indiana became the first state in the United States to pass a law restricting access to abortion. This is the first state of the 50 in the country that imposes a ban on the interruption of pregnancy, after the constitutional right was abolished by the Supreme Court on June 24, through the annulment of the case Roe vs. Wades from 1973.
The Republican-controlled Indiana Senate has approved a bill that prohibits abortion, with certain exceptions such as fetal abnormalities, preventing health risks for the mother, victims of rape or incest, minors, as long as it is performed within 10 weeks of gestation. Current state law allows termination of pregnancy up to the 22nd week.
Victims of rape and incest will not be required to sign a notarized affidavit attesting to the assault, as previously proposed. The so-called SB-1 law will take effect on September 15.
As of that date, only two hospitals will be able to perform the procedures, which means that all clinics that currently perform it will lose their license. Physicians who violate the rule can be charged with a felony and face having their medical license revoked.
The debate in the state resumed when a 10-year-old rape victim traveled from neighboring Ohio to Indiana to terminate her pregnancy. Ohio allows abortion until week six after fertilization, however, the minor had exceeded 3 days of the time allowed to perform the procedure.
The Republican majority in the state was key to adopting the law
Despite being internally divided, Indiana’s solid Republican majority in Congress allowed the law to pass. Nine of 71 Republicans voted against the new legislation in the state House of Representatives. Finally, the rule was approved by 62 votes against 38, for a total of 100. For their part, the Democrats tried to block the decision without much success.
The state Senate received 28 votes in favor and 19 against, in a vote that lasted until Friday night. After the debate and approval, the last step was the signature of the state governor, Eric Holcomb, which was carried out immediately.
It’s a dark day in the state of Indiana. The Indiana General Assembly has passed a ban on abortion, turning back the clock 50 years on Hoosiers’ fundamental right to control their own bodies.
SB 1 is on its way to Governor Holcomb’s desk, and would take effect September 15.
— ACLU of Indiana (@ACLUIndiana) August 6, 2022
After signing, the Republican governor explained in a statement that the approval of the rule came after numerous hearings where different personal testimonies and those of elected representatives were heard to speak on the subject.
“Ultimately, those voices shaped the final content of the legislation and its exceptions, carefully negotiated to address some of the unthinkable circumstances that a woman or unborn child may face,” the Indiana governor added.
The future of abortion in the United States in doubt
Indiana’s move is expected to be replicated by other states, including West Virginia, which is days away from enacting an outright abortion ban. Another 10 Republican-led states have already implemented bans on pregnancy termination.
Lawmakers in the Midwestern US state made the decision three days after Kansas voters rejected a ballot measure that sought to remove abortion-rights protections from their state constitution.
The decision to ask Kansans about their position on abortion was made after Roe v. Wade was annulled after the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States in the case known as Dobbs v. Jackson. A decision that gave each state the power to choose independently on the termination of pregnancy.
California, Michigan, Vermont and Kentucky are preparing to ask their citizens about the direction they should take regarding abortion legislation through the ballot box next November.
A topic that continues to generate controversy
The reactions were immediate after the ruling was known. For their part, the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana and Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates-East called for a protest to oppose the abortion ban.
Joe Biden’s administration immediately rejected the decision, calling it a new attempt by Republicans to go against women’s rights.
“The Indiana Legislature took a devastating step as a result of the Supreme Court’s extreme decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and eliminate women’s constitutionally protected right to abortion,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre wrote in a statement.
Eli Lilly Co., a pharmaceutical giant based in Indianapolis, which employs more than 10,400 people, assured that this new decision will make them rethink their presence in that state.
“We are concerned that this law will hamper Lilly’s, and Indiana’s, ability to attract diverse scientific, engineering and business talent from around the world,” the company said in a statement.
Last Wednesday, August 3, President Joe Biden signed a new executive order to facilitate abortion and alleviate the costs of clinical services for procedures, thinking of women who travel between states in order to interrupt their pregnancy.
At the beginning of July, President Biden had signed an executive order in order to reinforce measures to protect access to abortion, contraceptives and protect the privacy of women who access this type of procedure.
The results of the reopened debate on abortion and the annulment of Roe vs. Wade.
With Reuters and AP.
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