TOLEDO, Ohio —
A controversial court case now means women in Ohio can access same-day abortions.
A Franklin County Court of Common Pleas judge last month temporarily blocked a law requiring women to wait 24 hours after an initial consultation before they could get an abortion.
"It's a big win just because, when they're able to, they can do it all same day. It cuts back on how many times they have to come here," said Amelia Stower, an employee with the Toledo Women's Center.
Stower says the 24-hour restriction was a burden to patients and that it would force them to make multiple trips to the center, oftentimes requiring them to call out of work more frequently or find additional child care.
She says at those initial consultations, the center had to give out state-mandated information about family planning before patients returned for their second appointment.
"They could say it's for making sure they're making the right decision, but most patients know what they want to do when they're coming in here," Stower said.
Ed Sitter, executive director of Greater Toledo Right to Life and Foundation for Life, says educating women was the point of the 24-hour window.
"Wouldn't you want a woman going in and making this life and decision to have all the information she needs, have time to reflect on this decision, before going ahead with this decision?" he said.
Sitter believes women need those 24 hours to make the most informed decision.
"What we found is most women, if they're empowered to make an informed decision, will choose life," he said.
According to Stower, though, most women make a decision even before making an appointment.
"Just because they come in for an initial consultation doesn't mean they have to have an abortion that day. If they want take some time in between to decide, that is fully their right," she said.
Attorney General Dave Yost's office plans to appeal the ruling.
Bethany McCorkle, the attorney general's communications director, released the following statement:
"We have heard the voices of the people and recognize that reproductive rights are now protected in our Constitution. However, we respectfully disagree with the court's decision that requiring doctors to obtain informed consent and wait 24 hours prior to an abortion constitute a burden. These are essential safety features designed to ensure that women receive proper care and make voluntary decisions. These measures were consistently upheld under Roe v. Wade. We plan to appeal this ruling."