Ohio prohibits aborting fetuses with Downs

[pauldun170]

Ohio lawmakers have decided that they need to make medical decisions and enforce their beliefs on constituents.

Ohio is prohibiting doctors from performing abortions in cases where tests reveal the fetus has or likely has Down syndrome.

Republican Gov. John Kasich signed the legislation Friday and the law goes into effect in 90 days. "The governor is pro-life and supports policies that protect the sanctity of life," press secretary Jon Keeling tells CNN.

The law prohibits abortions after prenatal tests reveal Down syndrome in a fetus or if there's "any other reason to believe" the fetus has the genetic condition.


A person performing an abortion in such a case could face a fourth-degree felony charge, and physicians could lose their licenses. The woman seeking the abortion would not be held accountable, according to the legislation.
Similar laws have passed in North Dakota and Indiana, though a federal judge blocked the Indiana law. The North Dakota law went into effect in 2013.
Down syndrome is a genetic condition that affects cognitive ability, causing mild to severe learning disabilities and distinctive facial characteristics. The condition can be diagnosed during pregnancy through prenatal screening tests. Treatment can include speech, occupational, emotional and other therapies; supplements and drugs; and assistive devices
http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/22/health/ohio-governor-signs-down-syndrome-abortion-ban/index.html

 

[fleshconsumed]

I can't believe this is legal... And even if it was, restricting abortions of special needs children that will require thousands of hours and hundreds of thousands of dollars to care for while simultaneously cutting aid, social services, and medical services is just plain unethical.

 

[Brainonska511]

Small government - small enough to fit in your doctor's office.

 

[ivwshane]

Does the bill also pay for their care?

 

[IronWing]

Another waste of the taxpayers' dollars defending a patently unconstitutional law.

 

[K1052]

Does the bill also pay for their care?

lol

 

[theeedude]

Isn't it a violation of equal protection clause?

 

[imported_tajmahal]

That is pretty screwed up, no way should they be able to pass a law such as this. I don't support this at all.

 

[FIVR]

Ohio secures the next generation of Trump voters.

 

[bshole]

`

 

[Puffnstuff]

Ohio lawmakers have decided that they need to make medical decisions and enforce their beliefs on constituents.

Republicans in FL did that over a decade ago with Terri Schiavo forcing her family to abide by the states will. If I found out that my unborn child's body was debilitated like that there's no way that my conscience would allow me to bring a person into this world in that state. Unlike what organized religion teaches I understand what Jesus says about life not beginning until birth so I would terminate the pregnancy.

 

[dank69]

Let me shed a tear for a state that willingly voted enough Republicans into office to do this.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

I feel this should be a families decision and I'm also slightly appalled at Denmark(?) that has effectively eliminated Downs Babies by screening everyone and offering abortion. I read an article months ago about how Doctors are forgetting about care for sufferers of downs, there are only a handful in the whole country and a birth hasn't happened in years.
I want to say I don't think I am capable of care for someone that intensely and a friend of my Mother has a downs son. Tough to see him because we were born weeks apart and he seems so much older than me. The care goes beyond family too because who takes care of him if she dies, what impact would that have on a siblings marriage?
Tough issue that I pray people never have to get involved with.
Back to my original point the real number probably isn't 100% born and it's also not 0% born.

 

[Paladin3]

Back in 1991 when my wife was pregnant with our first child we were told my son might be born with downs syndrome. We didn't think of aborting for one second but that was our decision. He was born completely normal and has a higher IQ than either myself (not saying much) or my wife (who was f'ing brilliant.)

If anyone forced me to have a child I didn't want I'd sue until I owned the entire state. You just forced me to have a child who will require my constant care for the rest of its life. Basically, you are forfeiting my life and freedom to your stupid god. No person has the moral right to make that decision for another.

 

[bshole]

I feel this should be a families decision and I'm also slightly appalled at Denmark(?) that has effectively eliminated Downs Babies by screening everyone and offering abortion. I read an article months ago about how Doctors are forgetting about care for sufferers of downs, there are only a handful in the whole country and a birth hasn't happened in years.
I want to say I don't think I am capable of care for someone that intensely and a friend of my Mother has a downs son. Tough to see him because we were born weeks apart and he seems so much older than me. The care goes beyond family too because who takes care of him if she dies, what impact would that have on a siblings marriage?
Tough issue that I pray people never have to get involved with.
Back to my original point the real number probably isn't 100% born and it's also not 0% born.

I have a brother with Down's. My parents got a SS check for him his entire adult life. I can totally see the Republicans cutting off those checks in the near future. You MUST have that baby AND HELL NO we aren't paying a dime for his care.

Downs Syndrome people like my brother are the happiest people in the world. They live in the moment their entire life.

 

[theeedude]

Conservatives are worried about running out of people retarded enough to believe in trickle down.

 

[zinfamous]

Ohio was tired of Alabama getting all the attention over the last season.

 

[UNCjigga]

Every now and then I find myself thinking "hey, that Kasich guy was reasonable, he should've been the nominee, hell I might've voted for him over Hillary..."

But then I snap back to reality and remember, it's not just about one man, it's an entire party of fucking stupid and you always need to watch out for the lowest common denominator, because all the Kasichs and Rubios and Flakes have no backbone, and will sign or vote for anything the party demands of them.

 

[Puffnstuff]

Conservatives are worried about running out of people retarded enough to believe in trickle down.

They'd best get to thinking about how aging supporters will be replaced as my parents are getting along in years. I will never support them in any way ever again will vote party for the rest of my life in protest of their greed.

 

[Paladin3]

They'd best get to thinking about how aging supporters will be replaced as my parents are getting along in years. I will never support them in any way ever again will vote party for the rest of my life in protest of their greed.

I'm turning 50 next year and am happy to see a lot of ignorance aging and dying off with my generation and those prior to it.

 

[Puffnstuff]

Since this has been signed into law residents will have to cross state lines to have this service performed.

 

[trenchfoot]

Kasich is term limited, so I'm thinking he has nothing to lose and he's not doing this from the heart. More so he's doing this as part of the overall strategy to keep the Repub base intact, especially from the evangelical demographic.

There's also this idea that by signing this into law, it creates a distraction away from that horrific tax bill that's going to shift a lot of wealth away from Ohio's middle class and poor over to Kasich's wealthy friends and donors.

Single issue items have always been the go-to shtick whenever the Repubs felt/feel threatened by their own deeds. This incident looks like just another one the Repubs are tossing out on their banquet table of distractions.

 

[Sunburn74]

So many things wrong with this I'm not sure where to start. I think for the pro family party this is a shot across the bow for middle class and wealthy families. Poor families don't choose abortions over concerns for Down's. It's more of a middle class and wealthy phenomena.

Anyway almost no chance this stands in court. There is a precedent already set and it basically allows states defacto ban the procedure by just expanding the exclusions. Even more so when wealthy families (ir some billionaire is told he has a downs kid and he can't get an abortion) start getting caught up with this, I'm sure you'll see the backlash.

 

[Puffnstuff]

Double standards apply and wealthy people only need apply for exceptions.