Ohio Abortion Law: Shouldn’t this be the Mother’s Decision?
The process of a bill becoming a law in Ohio is complicated and was intentionally designed to be that way.
Legislators can turn their ideas into detailed state laws. A bill must receive three considerations on three
separate days in each house of the general assembly. The introduction of the bill is the first consideration.
Amendments and recommendations are made to the bill. If the bill is referred to the committee, that is the
second consideration. If the bill receives a majority vote it passes on the House of Representatives where
a similar process is followed. This is the third consideration. Once the bill is approved by the Senate and
House it becomes an act and is sent to the governor for review and signature. A signed act becomes law
after 90 days. If the governor takes no action within 10 days of receiving the act, it automatically becomes
law (The Ohio Senate 129th General Assembly, 2011). In October 2011, Ohio signed two acts into law
regarding abortion regulations. The first law is the viability law which bans abortions after twenty weeks
gestation. The previous ruling on this was twenty four weeks gestation (Thomas, n.d.). This law does not
provide any provisions for rape, incest, fetal abnormalities, or mental health issues of the mother. The
second law is insurance coverage, which states no state funds may be used to help pay for any part of an
abortion. This includes all government assisted health insurance plans. Stipulations are even in place that
may limit women to pay out of pocket if covered by state insurance plan. The Heartbeat bill would ban all
abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected by ultrasound; this is typically at six to seven weeks gestations.
Many women do not even know they are pregnant at this time. Again this bill provides no provisions for rape,
incest, fetal abnormalities, or maternal health. If this bill passes, this would be the strictest bill in the country
(Femagination, 2011). These laws limit access to safe legal abortions for women. Laws made by legislators
with conservative patriarchal views. When it comes to decisions related to abortions and our own bodies,
shouldn’t this be the mother’s decision?
When family planning, most people would never imagine that current laws would or could someday have an
effect on their pregnancy. Women get pregnant and this perfect image of their baby enters their mind. The
picture of health. The Gerber baby. At times, this image holds true but other time’s nature takes a very
different course of events. Prenatal testing can provide a wealth of information both good and bad for parents.
Anencephaly is one of many malformations that can be diagnosed prenatally. Unfortunately it is a lethal
malformation and is not compatible with life. It is characterized by the absence of the brain and skull, facial
abnormalities, and there are often associated cardiac defects. This neural tube defect occurs in approximately
1 in 10,000 births (PubMed Health, 2011). Parents feel a variety of emotions after receiving this diagnosis.
Fear, anger, loneliness, and hopelessness are just some of the emotions people may experience
(Benute, G.R.G., Et Al, 2011).
Healthcare providers present the available options to the family when a diagnosis like this is given. Among
the options are counseling, education, and termination of the pregnancy if she is within the legal parameters
of less than twenty weeks gestation. If the mother is beyond twenty weeks gestation the options for her are
limited. In essence her choice has been made for her. She will be legally required to carry the pregnancy to
term. She will endure a trial of labor. Many anencephalic births result in a cesarean section. The absence of
the fetal skull applying pressure to the cervix delays the birthing process; often to the point a cesarean section
is required. The financial costs for a cesarean section could be as much as fifteen thousand dollars, (The Ohio
State University, 2011). Additional costs include six week recovery time, time used in sick or vacation pay (if it
is available to her), the physical scar, the potential for lifelong repeat cesarean sections and of course funeral
expenses for the baby. With the freedom of choice, unrestricted by laws, should the mother elect for an abortion,
the costs according to Women’s Med in Dayton, Ohio range from five hundred fifty to three thousand dollars.
The recovery time is twenty four to forty eight hours. When weighing the financial impact, which is huge for
many this is significant variance.
As healthcare providers these laws certainly limit the ability to guide and counsel a mother with suitable
options. In fact it seems to present more of a dilemma and raises the question, why are we doing prenatal
diagnosis at all if access to safe legal abortion is not an option for fetal abnormalities? (Arawi & Nassar, n.d.)
Each and every person should have the right to make the decision that is best suited for their own
individual needs.
These conservative right wing views continue to oppress women’s autonomy and reproductive rights. Such
laws may well force women to seek illegal and unsafe means of abortion. The World Health Organization
claims thirteen percent of all maternal deaths are related to unsafe abortion practices. (NOW, n.d.)
Increasingly medical decisions are being made by insurance companies and law makers, not by patients
and their physicians. (Castle, 2011)
References
Arawi, T., & Nassar, A. (n.d.). Prenatally diagnosed foetal malformations and termination of
pregnancy: the case of Lebanon. Developing World of Bioethics,. doi:10.1111/j.1471-8847.201000287x
Benute, G.R.G., Et Al (2011). Feelings of women regarding end-of-life decision
making after ultrasound diagnosis of a lethal fetal malformation. Midwifery,.
doi:10.1016/j.midw.2011.06.011
Castle, M. A. (2011). Abortion in the United States' bible belt: organizing for power and empowerment. Reproductive Health, 8(1), 1-11. doi:10.1186/1742-4755-8-1CDC National center on birth defects and
developmental disabilities.CDC (n.d.). National center on birth defects and developmental disabilities.
Femagination (2011, April 2). Ohio's Heartbeat Abortion Bill [Web log comment]. Retrieved from http://http:www.femagination.com/3784/ohios-heartbeat-abortion-bill/
Lakoff G 2002 Moral Politics: How Liberals and Conservatives ThinkLakoff, G. (2002). Moral Politics: How Liberals and Conservatives Think(Second ed.).
NOW National organization for womenNOW (n.d.). National organization for women. Retrieved November 20, 2011, from http://http:www.now.org/issues/abortion/reproductive_justice.html
Ohio Senate 129th General Assembly 20111119 How a bill becomes lawThe Ohio Senate 129th
General Assembly (2011, November 19). How a bill becomes law. Retrieved November 19, 2011,
from http://www.ohiosenate.gov/how-a-bill-becomes-a-law.html
(The Ohio Senate 129th General Assembly, 2011)
The Ohio State University (2011). Hospital Fees. Columbus, Ohio
Thomas T A Back to the future of regulating abortion in the first term.Thomas, T. A. (2011). Back to
the future of regulating abortion in the first term. , , . Retrieved from http://www.works.bepress.com
Tong, R. (n.d.). Feminist Thought (second ed.).
Women's Med Your abortion care specialistWomen's Med (n.d.). Your abortion care specialist.
Retrieved November 22, 2011, from http://www.womensmed.com
The process of a bill becoming a law in Ohio is complicated and was intentionally designed to be that way.
Legislators can turn their ideas into detailed state laws. A bill must receive three considerations on three
separate days in each house of the general assembly. The introduction of the bill is the first consideration.
Amendments and recommendations are made to the bill. If the bill is referred to the committee, that is the
second consideration. If the bill receives a majority vote it passes on the House of Representatives where
a similar process is followed. This is the third consideration. Once the bill is approved by the Senate and
House it becomes an act and is sent to the governor for review and signature. A signed act becomes law
after 90 days. If the governor takes no action within 10 days of receiving the act, it automatically becomes
law (The Ohio Senate 129th General Assembly, 2011). In October 2011, Ohio signed two acts into law
regarding abortion regulations. The first law is the viability law which bans abortions after twenty weeks
gestation. The previous ruling on this was twenty four weeks gestation (Thomas, n.d.). This law does not
provide any provisions for rape, incest, fetal abnormalities, or mental health issues of the mother. The
second law is insurance coverage, which states no state funds may be used to help pay for any part of an
abortion. This includes all government assisted health insurance plans. Stipulations are even in place that
may limit women to pay out of pocket if covered by state insurance plan. The Heartbeat bill would ban all
abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected by ultrasound; this is typically at six to seven weeks gestations.
Many women do not even know they are pregnant at this time. Again this bill provides no provisions for rape,
incest, fetal abnormalities, or maternal health. If this bill passes, this would be the strictest bill in the country
(Femagination, 2011). These laws limit access to safe legal abortions for women. Laws made by legislators
with conservative patriarchal views. When it comes to decisions related to abortions and our own bodies,
shouldn’t this be the mother’s decision?
When family planning, most people would never imagine that current laws would or could someday have an
effect on their pregnancy. Women get pregnant and this perfect image of their baby enters their mind. The
picture of health. The Gerber baby. At times, this image holds true but other time’s nature takes a very
different course of events. Prenatal testing can provide a wealth of information both good and bad for parents.
Anencephaly is one of many malformations that can be diagnosed prenatally. Unfortunately it is a lethal
malformation and is not compatible with life. It is characterized by the absence of the brain and skull, facial
abnormalities, and there are often associated cardiac defects. This neural tube defect occurs in approximately
1 in 10,000 births (PubMed Health, 2011). Parents feel a variety of emotions after receiving this diagnosis.
Fear, anger, loneliness, and hopelessness are just some of the emotions people may experience
(Benute, G.R.G., Et Al, 2011).
Healthcare providers present the available options to the family when a diagnosis like this is given. Among
the options are counseling, education, and termination of the pregnancy if she is within the legal parameters
of less than twenty weeks gestation. If the mother is beyond twenty weeks gestation the options for her are
limited. In essence her choice has been made for her. She will be legally required to carry the pregnancy to
term. She will endure a trial of labor. Many anencephalic births result in a cesarean section. The absence of
the fetal skull applying pressure to the cervix delays the birthing process; often to the point a cesarean section
is required. The financial costs for a cesarean section could be as much as fifteen thousand dollars, (The Ohio
State University, 2011). Additional costs include six week recovery time, time used in sick or vacation pay (if it
is available to her), the physical scar, the potential for lifelong repeat cesarean sections and of course funeral
expenses for the baby. With the freedom of choice, unrestricted by laws, should the mother elect for an abortion,
the costs according to Women’s Med in Dayton, Ohio range from five hundred fifty to three thousand dollars.
The recovery time is twenty four to forty eight hours. When weighing the financial impact, which is huge for
many this is significant variance.
options. In fact it seems to present more of a dilemma and raises the question, why are we doing prenatal
diagnosis at all if access to safe legal abortion is not an option for fetal abnormalities? (Arawi & Nassar, n.d.)
Each and every person should have the right to make the decision that is best suited for their own
individual needs.
These conservative right wing views continue to oppress women’s autonomy and reproductive rights. Such
laws may well force women to seek illegal and unsafe means of abortion. The World Health Organization
claims thirteen percent of all maternal deaths are related to unsafe abortion practices. (NOW, n.d.)
Increasingly medical decisions are being made by insurance companies and law makers, not by patients
and their physicians. (Castle, 2011)
References
Arawi, T., & Nassar, A. (n.d.). Prenatally diagnosed foetal malformations and termination of
pregnancy: the case of Lebanon. Developing World of Bioethics,. doi:10.1111/j.1471-8847.201000287x
Benute, G.R.G., Et Al (2011). Feelings of women regarding end-of-life decision
making after ultrasound diagnosis of a lethal fetal malformation. Midwifery,.
doi:10.1016/j.midw.2011.06.011
Castle, M. A. (2011). Abortion in the United States' bible belt: organizing for power and empowerment.
Reproductive Health, 8(1), 1-11. doi:10.1186/1742-4755-8-1CDC National center on birth defects and
developmental disabilities.CDC (n.d.). National center on birth defects and developmental disabilities.
Femagination (2011, April 2). Ohio's Heartbeat Abortion Bill [Web log comment]. Retrieved from
http://http:www.femagination.com/3784/ohios-heartbeat-abortion-bill/
Lakoff G 2002 Moral Politics: How Liberals and Conservatives ThinkLakoff, G. (2002). Moral Politics:
How Liberals and Conservatives Think (Second ed.).
NOW National organization for womenNOW (n.d.). National organization for women. Retrieved
November 20, 2011, from http://http:www.now.org/issues/abortion/reproductive_justice.html
Ohio Senate 129th General Assembly 20111119 How a bill becomes lawThe Ohio Senate 129th
General Assembly (2011, November 19). How a bill becomes law. Retrieved November 19, 2011,
from http://www.ohiosenate.gov/how-a-bill-becomes-a-law.html
(The Ohio Senate 129th General Assembly, 2011)
The Ohio State University (2011). Hospital Fees. Columbus, Ohio
Thomas T A Back to the future of regulating abortion in the first term.Thomas, T. A. (2011). Back to
the future of regulating abortion in the first term. , , . Retrieved from http://www.works.bepress.com
Tong, R. (n.d.). Feminist Thought (second ed.).
Women's Med Your abortion care specialistWomen's Med (n.d.). Your abortion care specialist.
Retrieved November 22, 2011, from http://www.womensmed.com
PubMed Health (2011, May 1). Anencephaly. Retrieved November 20, 2011, from
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002547/