For Immediate Release
April 2, 2020
Contact: Molly Smith
Phone: 440-668-4049
BREAKING NEWS
Governor DeWine Files Appeal
(Cleveland - OH) On Tuesday, Judge Michael Barrett of the Federal district Court of the Southern District of Ohio granted Planned Parenthood and Preterm an order exempting abortion centers in Ohio from complying with the Ohio Department of Health order to cease all elective surgery. On Wednesday, Ohio Attorney General Yost filed a Notice that Ohio will appeal Barrett's order to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and request a stay of the order until the appeal is decided.
"This is the right thing to do and we thank Governor DeWine and Attorney General Dave Yost for their quick action. Why should abortion facilities be exempt from the health directives issued to all ambulatory surgical facilities? Abortion is not an emergency situation," said Molly Smith President of Right to Life Action Coalition of Ohio, "By defying the directives issued by the Ohio Department of Health the abortion facilities in Ohio put all citizens in danger"
Preterm, Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio, Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio, Women's Med Group Professional Corporation and Northeast Ohio Women's Center were all granted their request for a temporary restraining order to remain open for surgical abortions despite an order from the Ohio Department of Health to cease all non-essential elective surgery. The ODH issued the directive to all ambulatory surgical facilities to preserve life saving personal protective equipment (PPE) during the current COVID-19 pandemic. The restraining order was granted by an activist federal judge, Michael Barrett, the same judge who issued an injunction against the Ohio Heartbeat Bill from taking effect.
The Right to Life Action Coalition will continue to cover this situation and will provide updates as they are available.
