Back in 1973 the Supreme Court of United States gave out a landmark judgment on the issue of right to abortion. The case of Roe v. Wade (accessible at: http://womenshistory.about.com/library/etext/gov/bl_roe_a.htm), was brought about by a single woman in Texas who was pregnant. The suit was mainly to fight for the right to abortion. Like many other states the abortion laws in Taxes made abortion illegal. In this case the court decided that a woman has a right to abortion until viability (of fetus), with the consent of the attending physician. Viability was defined as a stage of fetus, in the womb, where it can live outside the body of the mother.
Though the court decided and laws of many states incorporated this change within their interpretation of abortion, the debate about the morality of this judgment still goes on. “Personhood bill” or “Heartbeat Bill” of Ohio had become the ‘talk of the town’ (more information about this bill can be accessed on: http://heartbeatbill.com/). Summarizing the bill would be easy as it is an initiative towards making abortion completely illegal.
As per this bill, as soon as a heartbeat is detectable in the fetus, an abortion should not be allowed. Detection of heart beat is possible as early as possible while viability (the present law of land) is achieved in between 22nd to 24th week of the pregnancy. This bill does not consider any exceptions for termination of pregnancy due to rape, incest or conception by a young girl (who is not yet physically ready to nurture a baby). It provides an escape route only in case where eminent danger exists to the mother’s life.
Ohio is clearly divided in the groups of ‘for’ and ‘against’ this bill. Democrats in the Ohio House said the heartbeat bill goes too far. Rep. Connie Pillich said, “This bill gives the government the ultimate power, the ultimate power to intrude upon the most personal and intimate decisions of our lives, of women’s lives, frankly”. Dr. Wilke, who is a known pediatrician in Ohio, said supporting the bill, “But after nearly 40 years of abortion on demand, it’s time to take a bold step forward.”
On the other hand, Thomas Niehaus (R), Ohio Senate President defends the senate on anti-abortion stand stating “The bill as passed by the House of Representatives likely would be found unconstitutional under the current abortion precedent established by the U.S. Supreme Court”. This was said in reference to the judgment of Roe v. Wade.
The anti-abortion group in Ohio has been unable to secure the required number of signatures by the eligible voters so as to prove majority support on this issue. The group has not yet accepted defeat and they have promised to continue to seek support from public until the goals are achieved.