Ohio Legislature passes bill that could shut down two Ohio abortion centers

COLUMBUS –The fact that abortion survivors exist is becoming much more widely known. As of 2020, at least two hundred infants in five states are known to have been born alive following an abortion attempt. While only nine states require any sort of reporting of these cases, concrete statistics are difficult to find.

But with anecdotal evidence such as the trial of infamous abortionists Kermit Gosnell, or the undercover video expose of Planned Parenthood, these incidents suggest the actual number of abortion survivors in the United States is likely much higher.

In response to this ongoing atrocity, the Ohio House along party lines voted 59-33 to pass the “Born Alive Infant Protection Act,” or Senate Bill 157. SB 157 was sponsored by Senators Terry Johnson (R-McDermott) and Steve Huffman (R-Tipp City).

“Thankfully the Ohio Legislature sent a strong message that every child’s life is valuable, no matter their size, ability, or location,” said Center for Christian Virtue (CCV) Legislative Liaison Nilani Jawahar.

Along with ensuring infants who survive botched abortions will receive appropriate life-saving medical care, SB 157 protects taxpayer dollars from funding the killing of unborn children by preventing doctors who work for state-funded hospitals and medical schools from contracting with abortion clinics.

This provision could potentially shut down two abortion clinics—Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohio and Women’s Med Center in Dayton—who rely on state-funded doctors for their services.

“Planned Parenthood and the rest of the abortion industry proved yet again that they never truly cared about women’s health, only their profits when they fought against this life-saving law,” commented Jawahar.

“Center for Christian Virtue and all pro-life Ohioans are grateful for Senator Terry Johnson, Senator Steve Huffman, and Speaker of the House Bob Cupp for continuing to advance the pro-life cause to protect all lives.”

SB 157 now heads to Governor DeWine for final approval before becoming law.

In 2002, Congress passed the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act, which clarified that infants who survive abortion are persons under the law but did not include any legal enforcement. In the ensuing years states have passed varying levels of born-alive protections to make up for the lack of federal enforceability.

Presently the Ohio Revised Code requires practitioners exercise the same skill, care, and diligence for infants who survive abortion that would be rendered to any child born at the same gestational age. It also requires presence of a second physician and life saving equipment and has criminal penalties for not complying with born-alive statutes.

Ohio does not presently have reporting requirements which is what the Born Alive Infant Protection Act, SB 157 will require.  

The Bottom Line:

“The Bible says in Jeremiah 1, “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, and before you were born, I consecrated you. I have appointed you a prophet to the nation.”