Indiana judge refuses to broaden medical exception to abortion ban

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Reuters

September 11, 2024 5:37 PM EDT Updated 11 hours ago


Sept 11 (Reuters) - An Indiana judge on Wednesday refused to broaden the medical exception to the state's near-total abortion ban, ruling against a lawsuit brought by Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers.

Judge Kelsey Hanlon of Monroe County Circuit Court acknowledged that the ban, which makes an exception for a "serious health risk" to the mother, put providers in "the incredibly unenviable position" of providing care in a "politically charged environment" under threat of criminal prosecution or loss of their licenses. However, the judge said the plaintiffs had not shown that the exception would prohibit an abortion in violation of women's rights under the state constitution.

Planned Parenthood and the other plaintiffs had asked the judge for a court order setting out that the exception must be interpreted to allow abortion in the case of a health condition that requires treatment that would endanger the fetus, causes debilitating symptoms during pregnancy, or is likely to become life-threatening or cause lasting damage to the mother's health.

The ban defines a serious health risk as "a serious risk of substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function." The plaintiffs said that was too narrow, and that without a clarifying court order, doctors might wait to treat dangerous medical conditions until they become deadly. But Hanlon said the exception did not require them to wait that long and allowed them to use their "reasonable medical judgment."

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/legal/indiana-judge-refuses-broaden-medical-exception-abortion-ban-2024-09-11/

[jcboon]

1. Bill

This is why there needs to be a federal law restoring the terms of "Roe vs.Wade".

[slightlv]

2. And ill bet this judge doesnt believe

Women die before, during, and after childbirth. Wonder if he can name the parts of the female reproduction system and what they do. He's just one more practicing medicine without a license. IMO.

[Freddie]

3. I was arguing with some idiot

Who kept proclaiming that all the news about women nearly dying from the abortion laws are “propaganda”. When someone actually dies (and it will happen) is that still “propaganda”? Alternative facts?

[LymphocyteLover]

4. actually it's a female judge and she had previously blocked the anti-abortion law in 2022

but was eventually over-ruled by the state supreme court.

She's a Rethuglican and apparently not willing to push the envelope on this issue any further. The PP case seemed reasonable. This sucks.

[Vinca]

5. And they wonder why doctors are fleeing red states.

[Zilli]

6. Dead women is the goal

If a woman cannot bring a pregnancy to term with a healthy infant delivered, then she deserves to die along with her fetus. This is the message I am getting from the "party of life" and all those who believe that a woman is not entitled to ownership of her own body.