Akron Beacon Journal editorial calls for Ohio governor to veto two anti-abortion bills awaiting his signature to become law, including the controversial heartbeat bill
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CLEVELANDURBANNEWS.COM-Cleveland, Ohio- Below is an editorial from the Akron Beacon Journal published Dec. 17 that calls on term-limited Ohio Gov. John Kasich to veto two anti-abortion bills passed by the Ohio House and Senate as late as last week that need his signature to become law, including the controversial heartbeat bill. Abortion rights groups such as Naral Pro-Choice Ohio, the Ohio National Organization for Women, and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio have repeatedly picketed the statehouse over the anti-abortion bills. A three-fifths vote in both chambers of the Ohio General Assembly is needed to override any veto. Read on below for the editorial
AKRON BEACON JOURNAL DECEMBER 17, 2018 EDITORIAL: CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL EDITORIAL OF THE AKRON BEACON JOURNAL AT OHIO.COM
The Republican legislative majorities approved last week two bills that severely restrict abortion rights. Now lawmakers await the decisions of John Kasich. The governor already has pledged to veto one of the measures, the heartbeat bill, which bars abortion once a physician detects a fetal heartbeat, as early as six weeks, or before many women know they are pregnant. He did so two years ago, reasoning, correctly, that the legislation is unconstitutional and would result in an expensive court battle.
Nothing has changed since.
What about the other bill, a ban on the dilation and evacuation procedure? It is the most commonly used method to end a pregnancy in the second trimester, from 13 weeks to 24 weeks. This editorial page argued a week ago the bill is just as extreme. With the governor now weighing his course, it is worth reiterating why the measure also deserves a veto.
Consider that it lacks an exception for a pregnancy conceived by rape or incest, mirroring the heartbeat bill, bill. In the past, the governor has recognized why such exceptions are necessary. More, neither bill allows for an adequate exception to protect the health of the woman, the related provision essentially delaying proper medical care.
As with the heartbeat bill,bill, the abortion method ban would open the way to charging physicians with felonies even though their actions are consistent with professional standards of care. This is a grave intrusion into the doctor-patient relationship, and the decision-making about treatment, denying doctors the option they may view as best for the patient.
In testimony before a legislative committee earlier this month, Annamarie Beckmeyer, representing Medical Professionals of Ohio, reminded lawmakers that the state already has a high maternal mortality rate. In barring a safe and commonly used procedure, the legislature invites the risk of the rate climbing higher. It also signals to physicians and medical students: Don't come to Ohio.
Beckmeyer asked: Why would these young doctors voluntarily place themselves in the midst of a potential legal quagmire that would not only prevent them from meeting their moral obligations to provide the full spectrum of evidence-based care for their patients but also might result in criminalizing their practice?
It matters that the Ohio State Medical Association and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists oppose both the heartbeat bill, and the abortion method ban. A representative of the medical association explained to a legislative committee that while the organization stays clear of the larger debate over abortion rights, it opposes legislation that criminalizes or otherwise penalizes any medical procedure that is considered standard of care.
She added that determining the appropriateness for performing standard medical procedures has traditionally been and should continue to be left to the expertise of medical professionals.
Opponents of abortion rights won't end abortions in Ohio. The question is whether women, especially those who are poor or living in rural areas, will have access to safe procedures. That becomes less the case with the heartbeat bill . The same goes for the abortion method ban.
The method ban will trigger its own expensive court fight, encountering the reality that abortion remains legal. Such bans have been blocked in the states where they have been challenged. The ban is extreme, and thus deserving of the governor's veto. If the Republican majorities think they have the votes to override, give them the opportunity to show they do. CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL EDITORIAL OF THE AKRON BEACON JOURNAL AT OHIO.COM
Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com, Ohio's most read Black digital newspaper and Black blog with some 5 million views on Google Plus alone.Tel: (216) 659-0473 and Email: editor@clevelandurbannews.com. Kathy Wray Coleman, editor-in-chief, and who trained for 17 years at the Call and Post Newspaper in Cleveland, Ohio. We interviewed former president Barack Obama one-on-one when he was campaigning for president. As to the Obama interview, CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE AT CLEVELAND URBAN NEWS.COM, OHIO'S LEADER IN BLACK DIGITAL NEWS.
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