COLUMBUS — The Republican-controlled Ohio Senate has approved legislation that would require doctors to report cases of babies born alive after abortions or attempted abortions.
The so-called “born alive” bill passed Wednesday makes it a crime to fail to preserve the health or life of a baby born alive.
The legislation also requires the state Department of Health to create a child survival form to be submitted to the agency.
Democrats say the measure is unnecessary, because Ohio law already requires doctors to provide care and mandates record-keeping by the state Department of Health.
“The only remaining functions of this bill are to criminalize abortion providers and push false narratives about abortion care. Abortion care is health care and Ohioans deserve access to it. This bill would put additional strain on abortion providers, and push that access further out of reach,” Sen Tina Maharath (D-Canal Winchester) said in a statement released after the vote.
In cases of procedures in abortion clinics, the proposal would expand Ohio’s existing abortion manslaughter charge to require doctors to provide care to a baby born alive, call 911 and arrange transportation to a hospital.
The bill also bans abortion clinics from working with doctors who teach at state-funded hospitals and medical schools.