The bill that bans virtually all abortions at the point a fetal heartbeat is detected had its second hearing before a state senate committee. And it was at that point that opponents of the bill had their chance to make their points. Kelly Copeland with NARAL Pro Choice Ohio says lawmakers need to realize abortion affects a lot of women.
Copeland – Nearly one in three women have an abortion at some point in her life
And Copeland says even an outright ban on abortion would not make it go away.
Copeland – My own Grandmother had an illegal abortion during the Great Depression. Outlawing abortion makes it dangerous.
That’s a point that several doctors also made in their testimonies before the senate committee. Dr. Lisa Perriera of Columbus:
Perriera – If house bill 125 becomes law, women will suffer and Ohio will become the state where pregnant women have the fewest options for safe, legal medical care in the United States. That would be unconscionable.
The heartbeat bill, as written, does include an exception if the life of the mother is in danger. But doctor after doctor told lawmakers that’s not good enough. Dr. Jason Melillo practices obstetrics and gynecology in Columbus.
Melillo – Physicians at least in my department at Riverside are frightened. You know we are afraid that if we do something that is necessary but is deemed later on to be not life threatening enough that we are going to jail. People are afraid to give care that might be necessary and when we hesitate, sometimes people get hurt. You know if you wait on a patient who you think might have an infection that will lead to her death or might have an ectopic pregnancy that will lead to her death, if you wait too long you might be in a situation where it is actively leading to her death.
And the doctors, like Jennifer Wrenn of Columbus, told lawmakers there’s something else to consider.
Wrenn – I also work very closely with residents at OSU and Riverside and many of them are considering not practicing in Ohio if this bill passes.
Opponents said this bill is cruel and against the will of Ohioans. And many contended it’s downright unconstitutional. Ohio Right to Life has questioned the constitutionality of the heartbeat bill, and has been pushing for the legislation to become an informed consent plan instead. Jim Tobin of the Catholic Conference of Ohio told lawmakers attorneys who analyzed the bill for his group delivered a similar message:
Tobin – That the US Supreme Court would, in all likelihood, find this current version of the bill to be unconstitutional. These experts also raised the possibility that an unfavorable decision on this bill could provide a set back to the pro life movement.
But Janet Folger Porter, one of the supporters of the heartbeat bill, remains staunchly opposed to taking Right to Life’s suggestion.
Folger Porter – They should be called Ohio Right to Informed consent because they no longer represent Ohio Right to Life, the right to life of babies with beating hearts.
But Folger Porter would like to see some changes to her bill. She says attorneys working with her group submitted some proposed changes that she says will make the bill better. She says they are technical changes.
Folger Porter – The technical changes that clarify that bill. No substantial changes. Just makes it clearer. And a bill that we fully support with that amendment as we fully support the bill that has passed the house.
Folger Porter says the changes don’t involve inserting language to make the bill constitutional according to the newly passed amendment to the state constitution. Republican Senate President Tom Niehaus, in an interview with Ohio Public Radio and T V’s Karen Kasler for an upcoming State of Ohio show, said he was surprised by the four pages of changes that were proposed.
Niehaus - I’m just flabbergasted that after all of this time, all of these people hammering away at the legislature now they realize “Maybe they were right…maybe there are some problems here that we need to take a look at.”
Another committee hearing is scheduled for later today. And it’s likely the bill will be changed in some way. Now the big question is whether those changes are enough to convince lawmakers to get on board and pass the bill.