Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) are suing the state of Indiana over the state’s newly-signed law that bans abortions sought due to genetic defects.
ABC News reports that the lawsuit is a response to the abortion prohibition law which was signed by Indiana Gov. Mike Pence.
The new law has garnered a significant amount of backlash, including a
campaign labeled “Periods for Pence” in which women called the
governor’s office, discussing and complaining about their menstrual
cycles in an effort to force the governor to back down on the law.
Those bringing the lawsuit against the state say that Indiana is infringing on the rights of women.
“The State of Indiana's attempt to invade a woman's privacy and to
control her decision in this regard is unprecedented and
unconstitutional," said ACLU Legal Director Ken Falk at a news
conference on Thursday.
Pence and his government maintain that the law is completely within
constitutional bounds. “We will work with the Attorney General to defend
the law that enhances information expectant mothers receive and
enhances protection for the unborn,” said Pence’s deputy press
secretary, Stephanie Hodgin.
The law also mandates that aborted babies must be either buried or
cremated and cannot merely be disposed of, another aspect of the law
that Planned Parenthood and the ACLU take issue with, stating that this
is a costly requirement which is not imposed in the case of other
medical waste or operations.
"This is the same song and dance we have seen from the abortion
provider anytime they feel their lucrative abortion business is
threatened," Indiana Right to Life President Mike Fichter said in a
statement. "They oppose any common-sense law that protects women and
children because they want to protect their bottom line."
The lawsuit will go before U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Walton
Pratt, who ruled against a law in 2011 that would have prohibited
abortion providers from receiving state funding.
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