U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Indiana’s Right-to-Know Law

New Jersey remains without a Right-to-Know Law

The U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way Monday for an Indiana state law that places some of the nation's strongest limitations on abortions, including requirements that a mother be counseled in-person about abortion risks and offered pictures of what her unborn child might look like.

The court turned down an appeal from Indiana abortion businesses that claimed the in-person counseling sessions would make some mothers to forgo abortions or to have an abortion at a later date during the pregnancy.

"This is a great victory for Indiana women," says Indiana Right to Life Executive Director Mike Fichter. "For the first time Indiana abortion providers will be required to give women full, factual information on the risks associated with abortion, the alternatives to abortion, and information on fetal development."

The court’s action means that Indiana may begin enforcing a law passed eight years ago that requires in-person counseling and an 18-hour waiting period before a mother can get an abortion. Similar "Right to Know" laws in other states have significantly reduced the number of abortions and encouraged mothers to choose alternatives.

"This is just a good, common sense law," notes Fichter. "A woman considering any other type of surgery in Indiana will be told about all of her medical risks and alternatives. But up until now that's been a standard Indiana abortion clinics have failed to live up to. It just makes sense to give women all of the facts before making life-changing decisions."

The Supreme Court did not comment in rejecting the case, which could have offered a new opportunity to review when state restrictions on abortion become unconstitutional.

Previously, the high court has allowed a variety of restrictions, so long as they do not place an ``undue burden'' on a mother's ability to get an abortion. Waiting periods and laws requiring mothers to get information ahead of time are not new, but Indiana's law goes further than most states in combining the two.

New Jersey remains without waiting period restrictions or Right-to-Know provisions.