A federal judge in Indiana blocked a law Thursday that requires Planned Parenthood and other abortion facilities to report information about botched abortions to health authorities.
The AP reports U.S. District Court Judge Richard Young temporarily blocked the Indiana law on behalf of Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky and the American Civil Liberties Union.
The abortion chain withdrew a request for a temporary injunction against a second portion of the law that requires annual inspections of abortion facilities, according to the report.
The common-sense law requires annual inspections of abortion facilities and increases reporting requirements when patients experience complications from an abortion. It also includes language to help ensure abortion facilities are reporting suspected abuse, whether by a partner, parent or human trafficker.
However, ACLU of Indiana Executive Director Jane Henegar claimed the law makes “irrational demands and intrusive requirements” of abortion facilities.
The Indianapolis Business Journal reported in April:
The suit asserts that the law violates due process and equal protection by singling out abortion procedures and requiring invasive reporting that has nothing to do with protecting women’s health.
The plaintiffs say abortions are one of the safest types of medical procedures—more than 99 percent safe, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Ken Falk, the ACLU of Indiana’s legal director, said in a statement: “Indiana is burdening abortion patients and their medical providers with reporting requirements that make little sense. These requirements are unconstitutional and need to be struck down.”
The abortion industry has a financial reason for claiming abortions are safe for women; they never are safe for the unborn baby. And without regular inspections or reporting requirements, Planned Parenthood can continue to make those claims based on what it chooses to report.
Mike Fichter, president and CEO of Indiana Right to Life, commented at the time: “Indiana’s new law, SEA 340 on abortion complications reporting, brings needed transparency to the abortion industry. Planned Parenthood likes to claim that abortions never harm women. If that was the case, why do they oppose this common sense law? Their lawsuit begs the question, does Planned Parenthood have something to hide?”
Fichter said he is confident the law will withstand a court challenge.
At least 20 states require some type of reporting of abortion complications, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a pro-abortion research group.
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Regular inspections and complication reports are basic, common-sense requirements for health care facilities that help shed light on their health and safety practices.
The horrific case of abortionist Kermit Gosnell in Philadelphia has prompted a number of states to pass abortion facility regulations within the past decade.
Prosecutors said Gosnell got away with his shoddy, murderous abortion practice for decades because of the lack of government oversight. According to authorities investigating the case, hair and nail salons were subject to greater scrutiny than abortion clinics in Pennsylvania. Gosnell later was convicted of murdering three newborn babies, contributing to the death of a female patient and hundreds of other violations.
A Texas-based abortion chain currently is trying to open in South Bend, Indiana. Whole Women’s Health has wracked up dozens of health and safety violations at its Texas facilities.
The Indiana Department of Health refused to give the abortion chain a license in January; it said the abortion chain made “inaccurate statements” and “failed to meet the requirement that the Applicant is of reputable and responsible character.” However, Whole Women’s Health is appealing the decision.
