Health Care

Indiana gov. signs law requiring doctors report abortion complications to state

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Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb (R) signed a law Monday that manadates medical professionals in Indiana must file reports with the state detailing complications from abortions. 

The law, effective July 1, requires doctors to annually report a number of complications that could arise from abortions, including hemorrhaging, blood clots, infection and death. 

{mosads}The law stipulates that no identifying information of the woman should be included, but the report must detail the date of the procedure, the age and race of the patient, the county and state of the patient’s residence, the type of abortion obtained by the patient, as well as the name of the facility where the procedure was received.

It would also require information about how many times a patient has terminated a pregnancy, and what their educational level and marital status is. 

Failures to report complications would result in a Class B misdemeanor, which are punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a fine of up to $1,000 in Indiana. 

Proponents of the bill say it’s a way to ensure abortions are safe in the state, but opponents say it seeks to stigmatize abortions. 

“This bill does what two other states have done to gather information on these procedures without restricting access to them,” Holcomb said in a statement. 

The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana said the bill was passed “under the false guise of patient safety” and it would consider legal action. 

Idaho Gov. Butch Otter (R) signed a bill last week requiring abortion providers report similar information to the state.  

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