Statehouse News Bureau

The Statehouse News Bureau provides educational, comprehensive coverage of legislation, elections, issues and other activities surrounding the Statehouse to Ohio's public radio and television stations.

Ohio Senate Passes Two Controversial Abortion Bills

By Jo Ingles

Published November 6, 2019 at 9:43 PM EST

The Ohio Senate has passed and sent two controversial abortion bills to the Ohio House. One involves abortion reversal, a practice that is not backed by mainstream medical professionals. That other subjects doctors to steep penalties for failing to deal with aborted remains in a particular way.

Republican Sen. Peggy Lehner (R-Kettering) says women can reverse a two-step medication abortion by taking progesterone instead of the second abortion inducing pill. She says her billrequires doctors to tell women about it.

“This legislation simply gives women information on an alternative choice if they change their mind and want to continue their pregnancy," Lehner says.

Democrats including Sen. Nickie Antonio (D-Lakewood) call the procedure outlined in this bill "junk science." The American College of Obstertricians and Gynecologists says it has not been scientifically tested and think it could have dangerous side effects. Antonio says it is unfair to require doctors to talk about something that isn’t medically sound.

“This bill has severe unintended consequences that we will be dealing with for years to come," Antonio says.

The bill passed the Senate 22-10, pretty much along party lines. The Senate also passed, by a margin of 42-9, a billthat mandates doctors report if a fetus isn’t completely destroyed via abortion and requires them to preserve it or face penalties.