Columbus, Ohio- Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine on Wednesday signed Senate Bill 157 into law, Republican pushed legislation that makes it a crime for abortion providers in Ohio to fail to take measures to preserve the health of a fetus that survives an abortion or attempted abortion and creates a right of action for the affected mother to sue a person guilty of such activity.
Sponsored by state Sen. Terry Johnson (R-14), a McDermott Republican and former practicing obstetrician, the bill, which passed along party lines and is now state law, also creates new rules around ambulatory surgical facilities where abortions are attempting to be performed in order to ensure the health and safety of a fetus that remains after the abortion has been completed. It has been dubbed "the born alive bill" by conservatives, a law punishable by a first degree felony for physicians and abortion providers who fail to comply with its mandates. Abortion advocates say the law is absurd.
Both the Ohio Senate and the Ohio House of Representatives are controlled by Republicans who also hold every statewide office aside from three seats on the seven-member Ohio Supreme Court, including the offices of governor, state attorney general and secretary of state.
Opponents of the new law say it is unnecessary and nothing more than another effort to deny women in Ohio reproductive rights, a highly restrictive anti-abortion law that comes behind a 15-week abortion ban in Mississippi that is before the the U.S. Supreme Court, and behind refusal earlier this month of the high court to put a temporary halt to a new Texas law that bans abortion after six weeks and provides for a $10,000 bounty on the head of any person aiding with an abortion.
Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley, a Democratic candidate for governor next year who is among those who hope to unseat DeWine, the incumbent, was infuriated over the measure.
"Mike DeWine is once again showing his true colors, he is an extremist committed to outlawing abortion in our state," said Mayor Whaley. "Make no mistake – abortion is on the ballot next November. The last line of defense for reproductive freedom in Ohio is a pro-choice, Democratic governor and I'm proud to be that candidate."
Kellie Copeland, executive director of Naral Pro-Choice Ohio, said in a statement that SB57 is "a dangerous anti-abortion bill that threatens to close two Southwest Ohio abortion clinics."
Copeland went on to say that the new law puts legislators between a patient and their doctor when a person is losing a pregnancy, forcing them to provide inappropriate and futile medical procedures.
"Instead of allowing that family to have a moment of privacy and begin the grieving process, Republicans think that legislative intervention is needed," said Copeland, who added that the law makes it "practically impossible for abortion clinics in Dayton and Cincinnati to stay open for patients."
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