Indiana passed a strict abortion ban following the Supreme Court decision on Roe v. Wade, but state officials have hindered its impact. The new law allowed for exceptions in cases of rape, incest, lethal fetal anomaly, and serious threat to the mother’s health, resulting in a significant decrease in the number of abortions performed in the state. However, the Indiana Department of Health stopped issuing terminated pregnancy reports, which had been available since the 1970s and provided transparency into the abortion industry.
The department argued that with fewer abortions being performed, patients could be more easily identified, and therefore the reports were no longer subject to public access laws. Despite a lawsuit filed by Voices for Life, a pro-life organization, to release the reports, the health department stood firm on their decision. The attorney general challenged this decision, stating that the reports should remain public records and open to the public.
Voices for Life has been instrumental in submitting complaints regarding abortion cases and enforcing accountability in the industry. They continue to track and provide detailed information about abortions in Indiana on their website. Maintaining public access to the terminated pregnancy reports is crucial to ensure that the new abortion ban is not being abused.
The refusal to release these reports hinders oversight of the new law and allows for illegal activities to go unchecked. Voices for Life and the attorney general’s office are committed to resolving this issue to uphold the law. Without access to individual reports, enforcement becomes impossible, making it essential for the reports to be made public once again.
Amy Drake, a stay-at-home mom, writer, and councilwoman in South Bend, Indiana, highlighted the importance of transparency and accountability in ensuring the effectiveness of the abortion ban implemented by the state.
