CLEVELAND — With a swift signature, Gov. Mike DeWine made Senate Bill 27 into law Wednesday. It's a law that requires any aborted fetal tissue to be buried or cremated. Any woman who is getting an abortion can choose what she wants to do with the remains, and if she doesn’t want to choose, then the clinic will have to choose for her. If the clinic fails to do so, whoever did not, could face a fine or jail time.
In a statement, Molly Smith from The Right to Life Action Coalition of Ohio, said they’re pleased that another pro-life law has been enacted and “that we have now adopted into law another important bill to honor life and keep the abortion industry accountable.”
The statement went on to say “Although we work for a day when no unborn child in Ohio is killed by abortion, we recognize that, at the very least, accounting for those precious bodies, and for their humane disposition is necessary,” said Smith.
Laurel Powell with Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio said that the law is another roadblock and unnecessary regulation for women who choose to get an abortion in the state.
“This is honestly just a familiar ploy by these lawmakers who use the chaos of the end of year session to try and pass these unpopular bills,” she said. “Studies have repeatedly shown that the majority of Ohioans support access to safe and legal abortion care.”
She said this is not a law that is necessary.
“This is not something that is intended to promote patient safety or access to care. Really, it’s just another attack,” said Powell.
Governor DeWine has yet to sign another abortion-related bill on his desk. If signed it would ban the use of telemedicine for doctors and women when conducting medical abortions. It would also impose criminal charges if doctors violated the law.
