The Indiana House of Representatives is currently reviewing two bills that deal with abortions and health care services. House Bill 1210 and SB 328 do nothing to address the shortfalls in our budget or create jobs (the things that we really need the most in this state), but instead create additional costs. These bills also do nothing to support Hoosiers in need of reproductive health care services.
I understand the motives of many pro-life citizens - they value all life, and that is admirable. However, I believe the best way to lower the rate of abortions in this state and in this country is to lower the rate of unwanted and unexpected pregnancies. This means providing better education about safe sex and birth control and providing access to safe types of birth control.
If fewer women got pregnant unexpectedly, fewer women would attempt to have an abortion. These bills are stuffed full of things that interfere with far more than just abortions.
My medical health and the medical health of other Indiana women is being jeopardized by the mistaken assumption that making it more difficult to get legal abortions will help lower the abortion rates. Legislators must stop the problem where it begins - with the unwanted pregnancies. There is no other safe, effective way to lower abortion rates.
In countries where abortions are illegal, like Brazil, it simply results in a huge underground economy for abortions that are unsafe and unregulated. The procedures often result in the death of both the mother and the unborn child.
Abortion in Indiana is a safe and legal medical procedure that women consider thoughtfully and carefully. It is already a heavily regulated procedure, for the safety of the women involved and for the peace of mind of the rest of the citizens. HB 1210 and SB 328 would erect even more barriers in the way of women obtaining abortions. These bills also require health professionals to give misinformation about abortion. This misinformed consent does not make women healthier, safer, or better informed. It also does nothing to decrease the number of unintended pregnancies.
If the legislators and citizens of Indiana are so determined to lower the rate of abortions, I sincerely believe they must first lower the rate of unintended pregnancies with better access to health care and birth control for women. Even more than that, I believe that our legislators should be spending more time on legislation that will address the need for stable employment and budgeting instead of attempting to take various health care services (these bills involve more than just abortions) away from Indiana women.
