As DeWine names Health Director, dueling abortion ban hearings drag on

Press Release | February 26, 2019

Columbus — This morning, as Gov. Mike DeWine named a new director of the Ohio Department of Health, two separate legislative committees were hearing testimony on bills to ban abortion as early as six weeks.

NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio Executive Director Kellie Copeland said: “In multiple committees, person after person has stepped forward and shared their personal experiences. Their stories have ranged from a young victim of human trafficking, to a graduate student facing an unintended pregnancy, to a woman confronting the heartbreaking news that her wanted pregnancy had gone terribly wrong. Each woman made the decision to terminate her pregnancy because it was the best decision for her based on her unique life circumstances. If Ohio enacts this ban, abortion will be effectively outlawed in our state, and women will suffer. Some may die.”

On the ODH nomination, she continued: “Throughout the last eight years, the Ohio Department of Health has been weaponized to penalize and shut down providers of safe and legal abortion. These outcomes have been disgraceful and dangerous. Health care decisions must be made by patients and their health care professionals. The politicization of the health department must not be repeated. Period.”
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