Ohio Bill to Forbid Abortion of Down Syndrome Pregnancies

Should the Ohio House Bill 214 be passed?

An Ohio bill was almost passed that would've prohibited the abortion of a fetus baby with Down syndrome. Ohio believes that all people are given a right to live even if they have a disease. Anti-abortion advocates and Ohio republicans believe that having an abortion, if the child has Down syndrome, is discriminating. On the other hand, the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio said it would interfere with women’s rights to make their own decisions.

Even mother Emily Chestnut has a daughter with Down syndrome, and thinks they are using the disease to restrict women from having abortions. She believes that the bill should be vetoed and women have the right to make their own decisions.

Ohio Governor John Kasich signed the legislation into law in December of 2017, and it was scheduled to be in effect on March 23, 2018. The legislation has been blocked until a final ruling is made. On March 14, 2018, Ohio Judge Timothy Black said that "a State may not prohibit any woman from making the ultimate decision to terminate her pregnancy before viability." On the other hand, John Kasich is pro-life and supports the anti-abortion law.

For now, Judge Timothy Black has blocked the law from taking into effect.