Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb at the Statehouse, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings File)
A federal judge temporarily blocked an Indiana abortion law, which would require doctors to inform patients of a disputed treatment for potentially stopping an abortion process. On Wednesday, the district judge ruled pro-choice groups challenging the law had a “reasonable likelihood of success” in regards to their claim the law violated clinic’s rights to free speech.
The abortion reversal law was halted by U.S. District Court Judge James Patrick Hanlon just one day before it was set to go into effect. The bill was signed into law by Gov. Eric Holcomb (R-Ind.) in April. Hanlon stated the state of Indiana failed to prove an abortion reversal for medication abortions was effective and safe.
A medication abortion consists of a combination of two drugs, which are taken at separate times. Women would be able to halt an abortion after being administered the first drug.
A major part of Indiana's newest anti-abortion law has been halted before it could take effect.
Federal judge James Patrick Hanlon issued a preliminary injunction that will prevent a provision from 2021's HB1577 from taking effect tomorrow.https://t.co/RIaOBmTw6X
— Brandon J. Smith (@brandonjsmith5) June 30, 2021
Proponents of the law argued it ensured women would have the information needed to halt a medication-induced abortion if they were to change their minds. However, Hanlon countered by claiming women could have access to that information without their doctor being legally required to tell them.
Reports said medication abortions accounted for 44 percent of the state’s 7,600 abortions in 2019. Similar laws have already been placed in six states across the U.S., such as Arkansas and Kentucky, with a law in West Virginia expected to go into effect in July.
Source: One America News Network
