By — Associated Press Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/fact-checking-gop-debate-claims-on-ohios-new-abortion-amendment Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Fact-checking GOP debate claims on Ohio’s new abortion amendment Politics Nov 8, 2023 10:38 PM EDT In the third GOP presidential debate of the 2024 campaign, Vivek Ramaswamy’s claim that Ohio’s new abortion amendment “effectively codifies abortion all the way up until the moment of birth without parental consent” needs context. The language Ohioans voted for in Tuesday’s election doesn’t change Ohio’s existing parental notification and consent law, which requires minors to have parental permission — or a judicial exception in extreme cases — to get an abortion. READ MORE: Ohio voters enshrine abortion access in constitution in latest win for reproductive rights To be overturned, that law would have to be challenged in court and struck down by the state Supreme Court, whose conservative majority would likely vote to protect it. Medical experts also dispute the idea of abortions “until the moment of birth” that Ramaswamy and other candidates on stage are using. Terminations later in pregnancy — which are exceedingly rare — involve medication that induces birth early, which is different from a surgical abortion. READ MORE: Here are the states where abortion access may be on the ballot in 2024 We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now By — Associated Press Associated Press
In the third GOP presidential debate of the 2024 campaign, Vivek Ramaswamy’s claim that Ohio’s new abortion amendment “effectively codifies abortion all the way up until the moment of birth without parental consent” needs context. The language Ohioans voted for in Tuesday’s election doesn’t change Ohio’s existing parental notification and consent law, which requires minors to have parental permission — or a judicial exception in extreme cases — to get an abortion. READ MORE: Ohio voters enshrine abortion access in constitution in latest win for reproductive rights To be overturned, that law would have to be challenged in court and struck down by the state Supreme Court, whose conservative majority would likely vote to protect it. Medical experts also dispute the idea of abortions “until the moment of birth” that Ramaswamy and other candidates on stage are using. Terminations later in pregnancy — which are exceedingly rare — involve medication that induces birth early, which is different from a surgical abortion. READ MORE: Here are the states where abortion access may be on the ballot in 2024 We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now