The Governor of the US State of Indiana has signed two new pro-life Bills into law, protecting the lives of the unborn and the conscience rights of medics.
The first piece of legislation bans the use of ‘dilation and evacuation’ (D&E) abortions.
Known in the Bill as ‘dismemberment abortions’, D&E sees the baby’s limbs removed one by one. They are the most common form of abortion between 13 and 24 weeks.
‘Barbaric’
Indiana Right to Life President Mike Fichter praised the new law, saying it would protect children from the “barbaric” practice.
In contrast, the pro-abortion American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana is suing the state for limiting women’s access to abortion.
Seven other states have had such laws temporarily blocked by lawsuits, but Mississippi and West Virginia already operate similar laws. North Dakota recently approved another earlier in April.
The Indiana law is expected to come into force on 1 July.
‘Unwilling participants’
Nurses, pharmacists and physician assistants will also now be able to refuse to participate in abortions or dispense abortifacient drugs if it violates their conscience, thanks to the second new law.
This extends the conscience protection rights beyond doctors and other workers who were already covered.
Fichter said: “All health care providers must be able to practice their profession in Indiana without helping to end a child’s life against their conscience.”