Judge Rules Against Efforts to Broaden Abortion Access

Source: PHOTO: WISH-TV

INDIANAPOLIS — Following Indiana’s implementation of a near-total abortion ban last year, some activists have been fighting the ruling in court. Well, a judge ruled against another effort Wednesday.

The state’s abortion ban essentially requires the procedure to be completed at hospitals. And, even then, only for those who are facing specific crises.

So, the lawsuit involving Planned Parenthood had been hoping to get more medical exceptions considered, and to allow other facilities to perform abortions. It highlighted the dangers of some pregnancy-related complications, and the high costs of having abortions at hospitals.

But, a judge ruled against these efforts Wednesday.

Special Judge Kelsey Hanlon determined that the health complications discussed will not necessarily be solved by abortions, and that some of the conditions are protected by current exceptions to the ban.

That being said, she did agree that the ban places some doctors in murky legal waters, depending on the needs of certain pregnant patients, as some of Senate Bill 1‘s language is open to interpretation.

Following the decision, Attorney General Todd Rokita said, “No matter how many times Planned Parenthood tries to…push forward their culture of death, we will continue fighting for…the unborn.”

But, Planned Parenthood argued, “We will continue to…work towards a future where patients and their doctors can make decisions without politicians in their exam rooms.”