Indiana Senate Approves Tougher Abortion Pill Rules

By a vote of 33-16, the Indiana state Senate approved a bill on Tuesday that creates additional requirements for clinics that offer drugs used to terminate a pregnancy.

The provisions covering clinics that provide abortion pills would require them to have surgery facilities and equipment and resuscitation equipment, such as defibrillators, even if surgical abortions aren't conducted there.

The bill exempts physician offices from any extra regulations even if those doctors sometimes prescribe abortion pills.

Republican State Senator Travis Holdman is the measure’s sponsor. He said the state should regulate clinics that offer those drugs to ensure the safety of the women taking them.

“There has been no regulation of abortion-inducing drugs in the state of Indiana, and there are a number of us that believe we need to have some regulation: informed consent, examination in person, and some guidance by the physicians to provide for the health and safety of the mother in these situations,” Holdman explained.

But State Sen. Breaux (D- Indianapolis) said the measure does nothing to increase women’s safety.

“It’s regulation that imposes a moral viewpoint of a few individuals onto women and couples across the state, who find themselves in a difficult situation; yet, who are more than capable of making health decisions themselves.”

Planned Parenthood of Indiana said the additional requirements might force it to stop providing abortion drugs at its clinic in Lafayette.

The measure, which now heads to the Indiana House, also requires doctors to perform ultrasound examinations on women seeking abortion-inducing drugs.