On July 1st, the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) sent a report to Governor Mike Braun in response to Executive Order 25-20, “Faithful Execution of Pro-Life Laws,” signed on January 22nd, directing the health department to ensure compliance with all state pro-life laws, including the release of Termination of Pregnancy Reports (TPRs).
The report, authored by Dr. Lindsay Weaver, State Health Commissioner, and Jon Ferguson, IDOH General Counsel, outlines several key policy changes designed to fully enforce Indiana’s abortion laws. These policy changes include:
increased executive-level oversight,
increased transparency with terminated pregnancy reports,
Increased enforcement actions and potential for financial penalties for noncompliance
improved collaboration with other state entities, and
creation of continued medical education trainings for Indiana’s abortion laws.
In the report, the department pledged to take several actions in response to Governor Braun’s directive and ensured that they are working to establish new guidelines to make sure hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers are complying with state abortion laws.
The report did list some challenges, such as the ongoing lawsuit that challenges the release of Termination of Pregnancy Reports to the public, as well as two hospitals, IU Health and Eskenazi, which have refused to file TPRs with IDOH. In response to this, the IDOH has created financial penalties for noncompliance with hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers that fail to properly submit TPRs, which the report states will allow IDOH to “to address noncompliance swiftly and proportionately.”
Indiana Right to Life responded to the report, stating,
“We are thankful for Governor Mike Braun’s firm resolve to see Indiana’s abortion laws enforced -- and to reinforce life and family as top priorities in Indiana. Today’s executive report from the Indiana Department of Health was encouraging. Hoosiers, in which so many want to love and support both moms and babies, will gain clarity on many issues from this report that underscores the department’s intent to work closely with other agencies, including the Office of the Attorney General, to ensure Gov. Braun’s directive is carried out.”
Governor Braun’s Executive Order is a major victory for protecting life and ensuring that the hard-fought pro-life laws in Indiana are being upheld to protect women and their babies. Right to Life of Northeast Indiana thanks Governor Braun for his leadership in continuing to build a culture of life in our state.
Read the full report here.
