Ohio bill to require debatable health warnings on abortion
Ohio Republicans are considering a bill to add requirements that doctors tell women that terminating their pregnancies could lead to feelings of guilt, depression, suicidal ideation and breast cancer.
State Rep. Jennifer Gross, R-west Chester, introduced House Bill 421 on Thursday with 15 co-sponsors, all Republicans.
It drew an immediate rebuke from NARAL Pro-choice Ohio Executive Director Kellie Copeland.
“Every medical expert knows that abortion does not cause breast cancer or any of the things alleged in this bill,” Copeland said. “It is absolutely negligent for a state representative to attempt to mandate that a doctor lie to their patients, especially during a pandemic when those doctor-patient relationships are even more important.”
She said that the goal is to frighten patients and stigmatize abortion providers.
The American Cancer Society said scientific studies have not found a causal link between abortions and breast cancer.
Ohio Right to Life officials said their organization did not collaborate on the bill.
Co-sponsors of HB 421 are Reps. Thomas Hall, of Madison Township; Jon Cross, of Kenton; Gary Click, of Vickery; Mark Johnson, of Chillicothe; Bill Dean, of Xenia; Craig Riedel, of Defiance; Scott Wiggam, of Wooster; Ron Ferguson, of Wintersville; Rodney Creech, of West Alexandria; Tom Brinkman, of Mt. Lookout; Jena Powell, of Arcanum; Sarah Fowler Arthur, of Ashtabula; Reggie Stoltzfus, of Paris Township; Bill Seitz, of Green Township and Kris Jordan, of Ostrander.
In 2019, there were 20,102 induced abortions in Ohio, according to the state Department of Health’s most recent report.
Laura Bischoff is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.