Government
Ohio court affirms abortion law
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Oct. 3, 2005
Ohio can start enforcing a 1998 law that requires girls younger than 18 to get parental consent before having an abortion, the U.S. District Court in Cincinnati recently ruled.
The law also affects Ohio adults and their physicians. Any woman seeking to end a pregnancy must meet with a doctor at least one full day before the procedure is performed to discuss possible clinical risks and alternatives.
Enforcement of the statute had been on hold since before the law took effect based on a challenge from the American Civil Liberties Union, which sued on behalf of Cincinnati's Women Services, an abortion provider. U.S. District Court Judge Sandra Beckwith rejected the ACLU's argument in her opinion.
"Plaintiffs' evidence does not demonstrate that [the statute] imposes undue burdens on the abortion right even when viewed in a highly deferential manner," she wrote.
At press time, the ACLU had not decided whether it would appeal the ruling.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2005/10/03/gvbf1003.htm.
