Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
2 More Rape Victims, Both Minors, Had To Leave Ohio For Abortions
At least two more minors made pregnant by sexual assault were forced to leave Ohio to avoid having their rapists鈥 babies, according to sworn affidavits filed by abortion providers. The affidavits were filed in Cincinnati as part of a lawsuit aimed at stopping the enforcement of Ohio鈥檚 strict new abortion law. Originally paused for two weeks, the enforcement delay was聽extended last week to at least Oct. 12. (Schladen, 9/26)
On Indiana's abortion ban 鈥
The Satanic Temple is challenging Indiana鈥檚 near-total abortion ban with a lawsuit that takes aim at Senate Enrolled Act 1 and claims the ban infringes on their followers鈥 religious rights and violates the U.S. Constitution. ... Despite often being confused with the Church of Satan or Satan worship, the Satanic Temple doesn鈥檛 believe in or worship the Biblical Satan. Instead, it venerates 鈥渢he allegorical Satan described in the epic poem Paradise Lost 鈥 the defender of personal sovereignty against the dictates of religious authority.鈥 (Christy and Nextar Media Wire, 9/26)
On Arizona's abortion ban 鈥
Providers in neighboring states, already seeing an increase in traffic from other conservative states that have banned abortion, were preparing to treat some of the 13,000 Arizona patients who get an abortion each year. (Cooper and Tang, 9/27)
Her feet dangle off the exam table, anxiously swinging back and forth. The doctor will arrive soon for the ultrasound. The woman will see the first image of the baby growing inside of her 鈥 one she will never hold. The ultrasound doesn鈥檛 take long, and the image is unmistakable. 鈥淵ou can see the head and the little nose,鈥 says the woman, pointing at the ultrasound picture. She asks the doctor if she can keep the image. 鈥淚 want the picture because although I am deciding and taking this option, I still wanted to see my little baby,鈥 she says. (Lah and Rappard, 9/26)
Updates from South Carolina, Kansas, and Texas 鈥
Whether conservative South Carolina changes its abortion laws at all in the wake of this year鈥檚 U.S. Supreme Court decision may be decided by divided conservatives Tuesday in the state House. (Collins, 9/27)
Demand for abortion is so high in Kansas right now, Planned Parenthood Great Plains can only see 10% to 15% of patients requesting appointments, officials told The Star. Planned Parenthood runs three of the five health centers that provide abortion services in the state. The KCK clinic, which opened in June, is the newest. (Gutierrez, 9/26)
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton fled his home with his wife on Monday to avoid being served a subpoena in a legal battle over funding for abortions, according to an affidavit filed in federal court. A process server was attempting to serve Paxton with a subpoena for a court hearing scheduled for Tuesday in Austin. Several abortion rights organizations are seeking a court order barring state officials from pursuing criminal charges against their employees should they resume funding out-of-state abortions for Texas residents. (Mekelburg, 9/27)
How do abortion bans affect those suffering from cancer? 鈥
More than 32,000 young patients newly diagnosed with cancer now live in states that have imposed or have impending abortion restrictions, according to a new study published Monday in The Lancet Oncology. Because many life-saving cancer treatments harm future fertility, many teens and young adults with cancer decide to freeze eggs, sperm or embryos in the hope of having a family later in life. (Jhaveri and DiMartino, 9/27)