Bill Would Ban Disposing Of Fetal Remains As Medical Waste

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indiana Department of Environmental Management Tuesday handed down a fine to an Indianapolis company for disposing of fetal remains as medical waste without a permit. 

Indiana law requires a permit to dispose of fetal tissue as medical waste. Indianapolis-based medical waste company MedAssure did not have that permit and was fined just over $11,000.

But Indiana Right to Life says the practice shouldn’t be allowed at all; and a bill currently moving through the legislature would require all fetal remains to be cremated, interred, or both. 

Kayevonne Dailey, who had an abortion years ago, says she would be comforted, even now, to know her fetus was properly disposed of.

“Regardless of where we stand on abortion, I’m certain we can all agree that the bodies of aborted babies should not be disposed of with gallbladders, amputated legs and other medical waste,” Dailey said.

But Democratic Rep. Linda Lawson says the issue isn’t so simple.  She says anti-abortion activists are trying to humanize fetal remains in an effort to throw up more roadblocks to legal abortion.

“And it’s going to require a lot of money, and it’s going to require a whole new process,” Lawson said.

The House bill is in a Senate committee Wednesday and is widely expected to pass.