The Indiana state House today approved a bill supported by the state’s leading pro-life group to limit the dangerous abortion drug RU 486 and protect women’s health.
Senate Bill (SB) 371, previously approved the Indiana House Public Policy Committee by a vote of 8-5, introduces health and safety standards into the chemical abortion industry that currently lacks state oversight.
Today, the Indiana House passed Senate Bill (SB) 371 on chemical abortions by a vote of 70-25.
Indiana Right to Life says the bill introduces oversight into the chemical abortion industry by including chemical abortions in the definition of abortion in Indiana law.
Currently, an abortion facility that performs only chemical-type abortions does not have be licensed or inspected. SB 371 will require chemical abortion facilities to meet the same requirements as surgical abortion facilities in such areas as reporting standards, physician oversight, cleanliness standards and building accessibility.
“The passage of SB 371 provides crucial oversight into the chemical abortion industry and establishes that health and safety standards be met,” said Mike Fichter, President and CEO of Indiana Right to Life. “We applaud the Indiana House for passing SB 371 and we especially thank the House sponsors, Reps. Sharon Negele (District 13), Matthew Lehman (District 79) and Bob Morris (District 84).”
Fichter said that because SB 371 was amended in the House Public Policy Committee, the bill’s original author, Sen. Travis Holdman (District 19), will now have the opportunity to accept the changes or dissent with the current language.
Fichter continued, “Indiana Right to Life is pleased with the bill as passed by the Indiana House and we urge Sen. Holdman to accept the current language of SB 371. We look forward to seeing SB 371 advance to the Governor’s desk.”
According to the pro-life group, when chemical abortion drugs are used up to nine weeks of pregnancy, past the Food and Drug Administration’s seven-week guideline, complication rates drastically rise. According to the New England Journal of Medicine, the failure rate of the chemical abortion drug is 8 percent at 7 weeks, but the failure rises to 23 percent at 9 weeks.
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There are also concerns about failed abortions and how they injure women and children — requiring immediate medical attention.
When the abortion is incomplete, facilities needs to be prepared to deal with a woman experiencing uncontrollable bleeding, infection or other potential side effects of the abortion drug. The licensing requirements in SB 371 will establish that chemical abortion facilities maintain an environment appropriate for dealing with these conditions, IRTL says.
During the committee hearing, SB 371 was amended to include informed consent provisions, change the date by which facilities must have licensing, remove ultrasound requirements and prohibit the Indiana State Department of Health from grandfathering facilities that were not given grandfathered status in previous laws, IRTL director Mike Fichter, who testified for the bill, told LifeNews.
ACTION: See how your House member voted here.
