Judge Sides With Planned Parenthood to Prevent Women From Seeing Ultrasound of Their Baby

State   |   Indiana Right to Life   |   Apr 3, 2017   |   3:57PM   |   Indianapolis, IN

Federal Judge Tanya Pratt sided Friday with Planned Parenthood and the American Civil Liberties Union in their lawsuit against Indiana’s ultrasound law.

Indiana has long required that an ultrasound be done before an abortion, but last year the law was updated to require that the ultrasound be done at least 18-hours before the abortion. Women are already required to received informed consent information at least 18-hours prior to an abortion, so this change aligned the two requirements into the same time frame.

Pratt has a history of siding with the abortion industry. Before the 2016 ban on abortion for the sole reason of the child’s sex, race, national origin or a potential disability could go into effect, Pratt sided with Planned Parenthood and the American Civil Liberties Union and blocked the law.

When Planned Parenthood filed a lawsuit against the 18-hour ultrasound law, it admitted it only had ultrasound machines at four of its then-23 locations around the state. In contrast, there are more than 50 ultrasound machines at pregnancy resource centers around the state providing free services to pregnant women. The ultrasound machines at pregnancy resource centers have been purchased by gifts from thousands of Hoosiers who care deeply about women and their health, and who believe women deserve to be truly informed about their pregnancies.

“Judge Pratt’s decision to side with Planned Parenthood is sadly predictable,” said Mike Fichter, President and CEO of Indiana Right to Life. “Judge Pratt has consistently issued rulings that favor the abortion industry. Planned Parenthood opposes giving women 18-hours between seeing their unborn child and having an abortion because they are worried about money. Planned Parenthood doesn’t want to spend money on purchasing ultrasound equipment for any of its non-abortion locations. It also doesn’t want to risk losing abortion profits if women change their mind about ending their pregnancies.

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“Indiana Right to Life urges Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill to appeal to a higher court. Hill is solidly pro-life and we believe he will fight for Indiana’s constitutional right to put a time requirement on our state’s ultrasound law.”

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