Lawmakers reintroduce ‘born alive’ abortion bill
COLUMBUS – Republican lawmakers are trying once again to penalize doctors who don’t provide medical care to infants who survive an abortion procedure.
However, opponents of the change say it’s not needed. Current Ohio law bans abortions after 20 weeks gestation, and to date, some of the youngest infants to survive premature births have been born at about 21 weeks.
Senate Bill 157 would penalize doctors who don’t attempt to save a child who is alive when removed from the uterus of the pregnant woman. The offense of abortion manslaughter is a first-degree felony, punishable by up to 11 years in prison.
The bill would also require the Ohio Department of Health to create a “child survival form” for doctors to report infants born alive following an abortion procedure in the state.
“A baby human being born alive can no longer be termed a ‘tissue mass’ or even a fetus. It is an infant, and it must by any standard of human decency be treated as such,” said Sen. Terry Johnson, R-mcdermott, of the bill he sponsored. “How any group, organization or individual can turn a cold eye to these precious little ones is beyond me.”
A similar bill backed by Ohio Right to Life was introduced in 2019 and passed the Ohio Senate, but it never became law. The same proposal was proposed in Congress.
Opponents of the changes say they are unnecessary because Ohio law already prohibits abortion manslaughter and allows patients to sue their doctors for substandard care.
“This bill is a solution in search of a problem and is most certainly not about medicine,” said Jaime Miracle, deputy director of NARAL Pro-choice Ohio. It perpetuates myths and lies about abortion care, the individuals who receive this care and the doctors who care for them.”
The bill is one of several restrictions on abortion access before the Gop-controlled Ohio Legislature. Another proposal would ban most abortions in Ohio if the landmark case Roe v. Wade were overturned – sometimes called a trigger ban.
Gov. Mike Dewine recently signed two abortion-related laws: one banning abortions via telemedicine and another requiring fetal remains to be buried or cremated. A Hamilton County judge recently stopped both from taking effect.
A recent Ohio State University study found that one in 10 Ohio women mistakenly thought abortion was illegal here amid a heated debate over abortion restrictions. Current Ohio law bans abortions after 20 weeks gestation.