Ohio Right to Life Issues Strong Support for APPLE Act
Legislation will ensure women are informed before choosing chemical abortion
COLUMBUS – Ohio Right to Life today announced its strong support for the APPLE Act, which would ensure women receive information regarding the risks of abortion pills before being prescribed by a physician.
The Abortion Pill Provider Liability Education (APPLE) Act, listed as Senate Bill 309, was introduced by State Senator Kyle Koehler on Wednesday.
“The choice to have an abortion is sad enough, but many women don’t fully understand the serious physical danger they are putting themselves in by taking abortion pills,” said Carrie Snyder, Executive Director of Ohio Right to Life. “These complications happen way too often – four times the rate of surgical abortion – and women deserve to know the risks associated with chemical abortion before they make a life-altering decision.”
Chemical abortions account for more than 60 percent of U.S. abortions, including the majority of abortions in Ohio. According to FDA reports, hundreds of women have experienced severe complications following use of the abortion drug mifepristone, including more than three dozen deaths.
The APPLE Act would require providers to inform women – verbally and in writing – of the risks associated with chemical abortion and their rights to hold abortion pill providers liable in cases of complication, injury, or death. The bill also directs the Department of Health to develop a consent form that a woman must review and sign before receiving abortion pills and grants the Attorney General the authority to enforce compliance and impose penalties on providers who don’t follow the requirements.
“Women who are facing a difficult choice should be given all the information they need to make such a critical decision,” said Snyder. “It is our hope that more women will see the dangers of abortion pills and make the decision to choose life, for their baby and themselves.”