CINCINNATI, OHIO – Today, an Ohio judge granted a second preliminary injunction blocking the enforcement of Senate Bill 157, a law that would allow the Department of Health to revoke ambulatory surgical licenses and threatens to shut down procedural abortion services in Southwest Ohio. The decision grants relief requested by Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the ACLU of Ohio, and Fanon A. Rucker of the Cochran Firm-OH representing reproductive health care providers, Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio Region, and Women’s Med Dayton.
The legal challenge, initially filed February 25, sought a temporary restraining order, which was granted on March 2, followed by a request for a preliminary injunction to provide immediate relief to Women’s Med Dayton, which was granted on April 15.
The following statement is issued on behalf of representatives from Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio Region, ACLU, ACLU of Ohio, and Women’s Med Dayton:
“The state's disregard of foundational due process principles shows just how far it will go to attempt to eliminate access to abortion. Today’s ruling is a win for providers and patients, but our fight to protect abortion access in Southwest Ohio and the entire state is far from over. We are as dedicated as ever to protecting Ohioans’ freedom to make their own decisions about their bodies, their families, and their futures—without political interference.
With the Supreme Court set to determine the fate of Roe v. Wade and after nearly fifty years of settled precedent with respect to the right to privacy, this lawsuit emphasizes the importance of outlining a right to abortion in the Ohio Constitution.”
SB 157 will make it even more difficult, if not impossible, for abortion clinics to comply with the already onerous requirements to maintain their ambulatory surgical license. Under this new law, abortion clinics would no longer be able to contract with backup physicians who teach or provide instruction, directly or indirectly, at a medical school or osteopathic medical school affiliated with a state university or college, or are employed by or compensated pursuant to a contract with, and provide instruction or consultation to, a medical school or osteopathic medical school affiliated with a state university or college.
This litigation is one in a series of lawsuits filed by the ACLU, ACLU of Ohio, and Planned Parenthood Federation of America challenging Ohio’s arbitrary, unnecessary, and onerous restrictions to safe and accessible abortion care for Ohioans.
