Policy Pulse 3.6.26

There have been four major Ohio related stories that we want to draw your attention to. Note that some articles may require a subscription. When possible, we have shared open access versions of the stories.  

1. Ohio Abortion Statistics Report: In case you missed it, we covered the heartbreaking news of Ohio’s latest abortion statistics report showing a dramatic increase in the number of abortion related deaths: 25,135 unborn children and 1 mother. Take a look at our initial review here. We are also working on more in-depth analysis and will be modifying our presentations to include the update. If you would like to bring one of our programs to your church or school, let us know here.  
2. Assisted Suicide push: While not totally unexpected, the Cleveland Plain Dealer has entered the discussion about assisted suicide (or as proponents like to call it “medical aid in dying.”).  
3. Telemedicine Abortion Expansion: Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio also announced earlier this week that it was expanding telemedicine abortion appointments to every county in Ohio. Opponents (like us) point that this poses a risk to patient safety, where proponents laud the expansion into rural counties. It also elevates the work that we are doing to educate on and disseminate information about abortion pill reversal.  
4. Organ Donation Litigation: One of the most frequent questions that we get during our presentations on Faithful at the End of Life relates to the permissibility of organ donation. This has been especially marked in light of a recent scandal related to designation of death criteria. Most major religions, as well as pro-life advocates, affirm organ donation in general, with the caveat that a donor must meet stringent standards to have a death designation. We strongly advocate speaking to your family and advocates about organ donation and encourage individuals to understand that certain designations (such as the driver’s license designation in Ohio) do not suggest a preference, but actually constitute a contract with Ohio’s donor agencies. This occasionally comes up when there is a disagreement about what constitutes “death” in an individual patient and has led to some litigation. A recent case in Ohio has put a spotlight back on this provision of Ohio law when a family supported their loved one’s decision to donate organs but objected to the donor bank’s use of mechanical methods to keep organs viable while various transplant teams were assembled. It is an interesting story that underscores the message we share during Faithful at the End of Life programs – to understand the process and talk to your loved ones. If you would like to host a Faithful at the End of Life seminar, we are currently scheduling for the spring and summer.