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Experts Comment On New Abortion Legislation

Some have attributed the downward trend to stricter restrictions on pregnant women seeking abortions in the Hoosier state.

In the wake of a controversial abortion law signed by the governor last Friday, both pro-life and pro-choice groups are taking time to comment on the issue.

The law bans abortions performed solely because of a fetus’ sex, race or potential disability. The measure also imposes new guidelines for handling aborted and miscarried fetal remains.Indiana is the second state to adopt these measures, after North Dakota in 2013.

When the law was debated in the General Assembly, it remained contentious among doctors and Republicans,  but supporters of the law, like Indiana Family Institute President Curt Smith say it prevents discrimination.

“We don’t see it as a limitation of the mother’s rights, but rather as an expression as a child’s potential,” he says.

One of the biggest unanswered questions when it comes to the law is how will it be enforced, and because of this, Executive Director of Health Care Education and Training, Inc , Abby Hunt says the law could be detrimental to the relationship between women and their health care providers

“We want them to have a medical home. We want them to be connected to their provider, and anything that takes away pieces where we’re saying a woman would have to go in, whatever the issue is, a woman would have to go in and lie to be able to choose what she wants to choose, whether it’s that issue or others, that is where we’re really concerned,” she says.

In addition, many foresee the law being challenged in court. Indiana Public Broadcasting’s Brandon Smith, says that the authors of the bill anticipated this and included severance clauses to ensure the whole law doesn’t get thrown out.

“If a court says one particular part of the bill is unconstitutional it doesn’t mean every other part of the bill is unconstitutional, is thrown out with it,” he says. “When you see that repeated a lot in a piece of legislation; that usually is an indicator that the authors of the bill know it’s going to get challenged in court and they’re kind of hedging their bet just a little to make sure everything doesn’t get thrown out.”

The law will go into effect July 1.

Our guests:

Brandon Smith, Statehouse Reporter, IPBS

Abby Hunt, Executive Director, Health Care Education and Training, Inc.

Curt Smith, President, Indiana Family Institute

Noon Edition airs Friday at 12 p.m. You can ask questions each week by joining our live chat, following us on Twitter @NoonEdition or by calling in to the program at (812) 855-0811.

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