Trump Administration Weighs in on Ohio Down Syndrome Abortion Ban

[TomSea]

Trump Administration Weighs in on Ohio Down Syndrome Abortion Ban

On Tuesday, the Trump administration put its support behind a proposed Ohio law that would ban abortion once doctors know a baby has Down syndrome. The “friend of the court” brief issued by the Justice Department cites existing legal precedent prohibiting discrimination against people with disabilities.

As written, the 2017 Ohio law in question prohibits terminating a pregnancy after prenatal screenings test positive for Down syndrome, according to the Associated Press. Doctors who perform an abortion after a fetal Down syndrome diagnosis would face fourth-degree felony charges, lose their medical license and be liable for legal damages. Pregnant women would not face criminal charges.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) challenged the abortion ban in court on behalf of Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers in Ohio, who called the law unconstitutional. They argued federal laws prohibit states from restricting a woman’s right to terminate a pregnancy before viability. A federal judge put Ohio’s law on hold, and in October, a federal appeals court upheld that ruling.

Read more at: https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/trump-administration-weighs-ohio-down-181441187.html