Bill Would Regulate Chemical Abortions
By: Robert Bumsted
Updated: February 25, 2013
New regulations may soon go into effect for clinics that distribute the abortion pill in Indiana.
State Sen. Travis Holdman (R-Markle) authoried Senate Bill 371. He says facilities that dispense the pills should be regulated by the same standards as clinics that preform surgical abortions.
The bill has come under fire by abortion rights groups who say the regulations impose an unnecessary burden on these facilities.
"The bill as proposed would require [these clinics] to comply with the same building requirements that some surgical facilities do," says Catherine O'Connor, the public policy director for Planned Parenthood of Indiana. She says the requirements would require at least one of their facilities to make structural changes to continue dispensing the drug.
But Senator Holdman says he introduced the bill because the drug needs stronger oversight. In a statement, his office told WFFT that the drug can "lead to serious health problems."
The bill has passed a Senate Subcommittee and will advance to a final vote in the full Senate.
State Sen. Travis Holdman (R-Markle) authoried Senate Bill 371. He says facilities that dispense the pills should be regulated by the same standards as clinics that preform surgical abortions.
The bill has come under fire by abortion rights groups who say the regulations impose an unnecessary burden on these facilities.
"The bill as proposed would require [these clinics] to comply with the same building requirements that some surgical facilities do," says Catherine O'Connor, the public policy director for Planned Parenthood of Indiana. She says the requirements would require at least one of their facilities to make structural changes to continue dispensing the drug.
But Senator Holdman says he introduced the bill because the drug needs stronger oversight. In a statement, his office told WFFT that the drug can "lead to serious health problems."
The bill has passed a Senate Subcommittee and will advance to a final vote in the full Senate.
