Cincinnati could be abortion-free if a state law is allowed to go forward. Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio Region has told a federal court that must not be allowed to happen.
Planned Parenthood filed a lawsuit against the state of Ohio on Monday asking a federal judge to strike down a law requiring abortion facilities to have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of the premises.
The abortion provider's office had such an arrangement with the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, but the law also bars public hospitals from providing admitting privileges.
“Other abortion clinics in the state are able to operate under the confines of the law so why should Planned Parenthood receive special treatment?” said Mike Gonidakis, president of Ohio Right to Life.
“This frivolous lawsuit demonstrates that Planned Parenthood is desperate. Ohio law is clear that our tax dollars cannot support abortion. UC Health is a publicly funded hospital, and pro-life taxpayers should not be forced to fund the abortion industry,” he said.
Planned Parenthood's lawsuit charges that the Ohio Department of Health “has followed a deliberate strategy of reducing access to abortion services in Ohio by imposing and enforcing regulations that do not promote women’s health.”
The law's defenders say admitting privileges assure continuity of care in the event of a botched abortion.
Planned Parenthood told the Columbus Dispatch that, if its office closes, Cincinnati will become the largest metropolitan area in the nation without an abortion facility.
The lawsuit has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Timothy Black, an Obama appointee.
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The law was signed by Gov. John Kasich, who was recently swept into a second term by a landslide.
Due to the holiday today, state offices were closed and state health officials were unable to respond.
