Strict abortion bans in neighboring states have led to a significant influx of individuals traveling to Ohio for abortion services.
In 2023, Ohio voters approved an amendment enshrining abortion rights into the state’s constitution. Since then, the Guttmacher Institute has reported that thousands of patients have journeyed to the Buckeye State seeking abortion care.
According to the Guttmacher Institute, 3,100 patients traveled to Ohio for abortion procedures in 2023, with many coming from Kentucky, Indiana, and West Virginiaβall of which have implemented abortion bans.
This trend mirrors a national pattern researchers have been monitoring. They noted that the number of people crossing state lines for abortions in the first half of 2023 more than doubled compared to the same period in 2020. Over 90,000 individuals traveled out of their home state for an abortion in the first six months of last year.
Catherine Romanos emphasized the risks associated with delayed abortions for those traveling for care.
βThe longer you delay an abortion, it gets incrementally more dangerous,β Romanos explained. βEven though itβs a really safe procedure, itβs always safer to do the abortion earlier in the pregnancy. If you have to delay because you canβt make travel plans or canβt afford to travel, that can be a risk to patients.β
Despite the constitutional amendment, Ohio still enforces several restrictive laws, including a 24-hour waiting period for obtaining an abortion, and parental consent requirements for minors.
βWe still have a mandatory ultrasound requirement,β Romanos noted. βIβm a little limited in whom and how I can provide medication abortion.β
The Guttmacher Institute also reported that over 1 million abortions were performed in clinics located in states without total bans in 2023.
βThat is an astonishing number of people,β said Kellie Copeland, executive director of Abortion Forward. βImagine if that number was for people who had to travel for a heart procedure or something related to their kidneysβit would be labeled a health care crisis. And this is a health care crisis.β
However, Ohio Right to Life President Mike Gonidakis questioned the accuracy of these findings.
βI call into question the veracity of that report,β Gonidakis stated. βNot because I donβt like the numbers, but because the Ohio Department of Health produces its own abortion report every October. This report compares and contrasts age, demographics, ZIP codes, and marital status of patients seeking abortion. Those numbers have not yet been released.β
βI think these national media reports are based on speculation and word of mouth rather than hard facts,β Gonidakis added. βI would hope that as a society, we can identify ways to help women have their children and raise them, or place them for adoption.β
Copeland highlighted that abortion will remain a pivotal issue in upcoming elections, whether voters are selecting candidates for the state Supreme Court or federal positions that could influence abortion legislation.
Ohio is also awaiting a judicial ruling on challenges to the stateβs Heartbeat Act, which would make it illegal for a health care provider to perform an abortion if a fetal heartbeat is detected. The constitutionality of this law is currently under review, with a decision expected next month.
Matt Pinner is a dedicated journalist for WVPrepBB.com, specializing in USA and crime news. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for uncovering the truth, Matt brings timely and insightful reporting to his readers. His work on WVPrepBB.com keeps the community informed and engaged with the latest developments in national news and criminal justice.
