A blow for abortion law appeal. (FYI).

An eight-year-old Indiana law requiring that women seeking abortion receive in-person counseling at least 18 hours before the procedure may go into effect for the first time, now that the Supreme Court has declined to consider a challenge to that requirement. (1) In 2002, a lower court ruled that the law, which specifies that counseling cover the medical risks associated with abortion and alternatives to pregnancy termination, is constitutional because it does not create an excessive burden for women. However, clinics and women's organizations argue that it is too onerous, because many women, forced to make two clinic visits a day or more apart, would have difficulty explaining their absence to employers or partners; the difficulties could be most severe for poor women and residents of rural areas. Opponents of the law also argue that the provision of certain information substantially in advance of an abortion could frighten some women. Further, they point out that similar laws in other states have been associated with declines in state abortion rates, but not necessarily in levels of abortion among state residents, because many women travel out of state to circumvent the restrictions.

(1.) Associated Press, Supreme Court denies abortion law appeal, New York Times, Feb. 24, 2003, <http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Scotus-Abortion.html>, accessed Feb. 24, 2003.

FYI is compiled and written by Dore Hollander, executive editor of Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health.