ACLU, Planned Parenthood Applaud Halt Of Abortion Reporting Law

Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky and the ACLU of Indiana are cheering a recent decision halting a provision of a new Indiana abortion law from taking effect Sunday. A federal judge halted the law, saying it was likely too vague to enforce.

The provision would have required physicians to report to the state what the bill calls "any adverse physical or psychological condition" resulting from an abortion.

Planned Parenthood CEO Christie Gillespie says she hopes the federal court decision will send a message to the Indiana legislature to focus on other issues in women's healthcare. Still, she says she expects there will be more anti-abortion legislation passed in Indiana, especially because of President Donald Trump's impending Supreme Court nomination and his earlier promise to overturn Roe v. Wade.

But Gillespie says her group isn't done fighting.

"Any type of legislative effort that tries to stand between a patient and their medical provider, we will advocate and fight against that," Gillespie says.

The state may appeal federal Judge Richard Young's decision to temporarily halt the portion of the law from taking effect. Other provisions in the law, including an annual inspection of abortion clinics, are unchanged.