Wednesday, April 20, 2022
No woman should ever be pressured into ending the life of her unborn child. In order to further protect the rights of pregnant women, Indiana Senate Republicans passed House Enrolled Act 1217 this year.
HEA 1217 makes it a crime for any individual to coerce a pregnant woman into getting an abortion. Under this new law, knowingly or intentionally pressuring a woman to have an abortion is now a Level 6 felony.
HEA 1217 also requires a health care professional to report a case of suspected coercion to law enforcement, and ensures abortion providers offer information about escaping abusive relationships to the patient as well as resources to assist in carrying her pregnancy to term.
This law prohibits abortion providers from performing an abortion for 24 hours after receiving specific and credible information that a woman is being coerced into having an abortion. This period can be waived if necessary to prevent the woman from suffering death or substantial injury.
Many cases of coerced abortion are related to human trafficking, and this law has the potential to help law enforcement rescue women who are trafficking victims.
To read more about HEA 1217 and other laws passed this session, click here.
