The Future Of Abortion Rights In Indiana At Risk During 2022 Session

A report from the Center for American Progress, the nonpartisan policy institute, says that 2021 has already seen the highest number of abortion restrictions enacted in a single year.

With the 2022 legislative session starting in January, here are some things Hoosiers should know:

What are Indiana’s current abortion laws? 

• A patient must receive counseling, where they are given alternatives to abortion. They must then wait 18 hours before the procedure is provided.

• The parent of a minor must consent before an abortion is performed.

• Public funding is available for abortion only in cases of life endangerment, rape, incest or when the patient’s long-lasting health is in danger.

• An ultrasound must be performed before the abortion, and the provider must offer the image to the woman.

How many women in Indiana are getting abortions? 

The Charlotte Lozier Institute, an anti-abortion organization, says that there were 7,637 abortions reported in Indiana in 2019. Women in their early 20s (ages 20-24) made up 30% of that group while 28% of abortions were performed on women ages 25 to 29 and 27% were on women in their 30s. Ten percent were performed on girls under the age of 20, and another 3% were performed on women ages 40 and older.

Currently, there are abortion centers in Merrillville, South Bend, Fort Wayne, Lafayette, Indianapolis and Bloomington. The Guttmacher Institute found that in 2017, 96% of Indiana counties had no clinics that provided abortions, and 70% of Hoosier women lived in those counties.

What is the process for a Hoosier woman to obtain an abortion? 

There are different organizations around Indiana that perform abortions. Planned Parenthood in Indianapolis offers the abortion pill, in-clinic abortion, pre- and post-abortion patient education, referrals for other services, and sedation options. A woman who wants to have an abortion must make an appointment, be given their alternative options and then wait 18 hours to make their decision.

Which states currently have the most restrictive abortion laws? 

Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri and Ohio are at the top of Planned Parenthood’s list. Texas recently made headlines for its abortion laws nationally. Its new law says that abortions cannot be completed after six weeks of pregnancy, and there are no exceptions for rape or incest. Citizens will be the ones in charge of reporting illegal abortions, and they will be rewarded $10,000 for each one they find. The Supreme Court has refused to block the Texas law and is fueling hope for opponents in other states.