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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.

Judge Temporarily Blocks Another New Ohio Abortion Law

The new law banning the prescription of mifepristone via a telehealth appointment was set to take effect April 12 [Agenturfotografin / Shutterstock]
doctor using telemedicine

A judge has temporarily blocked an Ohio law that would prevent using telemedicine for abortions, the second time the state has seen a new Ohio abortion law put on hold in a week.

A Hamilton County judge on Tuesday granted a two-week hold on law that would make it a felony for doctors to use telemedicine to write prescriptions for medical abortions, after Planned Parenthood filed suit last week.

The hold lasts until April 19, when a larger lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the new law moves forward in the court system.

Supporters of the law,  SB 260, argue a medical professional should be physically present for the administration of mifepristone to assure the woman's safety. But opponents say it is unnecessary hurdle to obtaining a safe, legal abortion procedure.

Laurel Powell with Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio said the new law denies women their constitutional right to an abortion. 

“It wasn’t ok to single out abortion care and say, ‘We’re ok with telemedicine except for this one case,’” Powell says.

But Ohio Right to Life President Mike Gonidakis said the law is needed to keep pregnant women and the fetus safe.

Earlier this week, enforcement of a new law requiring cremation or burial of fetal tissue was put on hold until the Ohio Department of Health clarifies rules for abortion clinics to follow. Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers  sued to overturn that law, too, but a Hamilton County judge  denied their request for a temporary restraining order.

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

 

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