Senate Approves Bill Adding New Abortion Reporting Requirements

The Indiana Senate approved legislation Tuesday to require doctors and clinics to send more information to the state about women who receive abortions.

One provision of the bill details abortion complications that must be reported. That includes conditions ranging from blood clots and cardiac arrest to depression and anxiety.

The measure also adds new details about a woman to reports sent to the state following an abortion. Current law requires information such as age of the woman, date of the abortion, and age of the father. The bill adds details that include the woman’s race, ethnicity, and the number of her deceased children.

Sen. Jean Breaux (D-Indianapolis) says some of the new details make no sense.

“The marital status of the patient – why does that matter? The educational level of the patient – why does that matter?” Breaux says.

But Sen. Liz Brown (R-Fort Wayne) argues the information is necessary to help the state protect women.

“Hopefully it will give women the information they need but we are not putting up any obstructions – as much as I wish that we could,” Brown says.

The Senate approved the bill 38-11, sending it to the House.