In a recent ruling, an Indiana judge has declined to expand the medical exception to the state’s stringent abortion ban. The decision, made by Judge Kelsey Hanlon of Monroe County Circuit Court, comes in response to a lawsuit from Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers challenging the narrow scope of the exception.
The current law permits abortion only when there is a “serious health risk” to the mother, a definition deemed too restrictive by the plaintiffs. They argued that the exception should cover situations where treating a health condition poses a threat to the fetus, causes severe symptoms, or risks serious harm to the mother’s health. Despite acknowledging the challenging environment for providers under the ban, Hanlon concluded that the existing exception does not infringe on women’s rights under the state constitution.
Planned Parenthood expressed concern that the ruling could endanger lives by forcing doctors to delay necessary treatments until conditions become critical. In response, the organization indicated they are exploring further legal avenues.
Indiana’s restrictive abortion law, revived by the state Supreme Court last year, has been a focal point in the ongoing national debate over abortion rights, following the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. The state, along with others led by Republican-majority governments, continues to face legal battles over abortion regulations and medical exceptions.
