A federal appeals court has ruled in favor of multiple pro-life provisions enacted by the state of Indiana.

The Hoosier State has multiple pro-life laws on the books, from prohibiting the ability of abortionists to prescribe the abortion pill via telemedicine, to permitting only physicians to prescribe the abortion pill.

However, a federal district judge had issued an injunction and blocked several of these laws, showing how once again, much of the fight for life takes places in the courts.

Indiana’s provisions which had been blocked include the following measures:

  • Requirement for only physicians to prescribe the abortion pill.
  • Requirement that second-trimester abortion can only be provided in a hospital or ambulatory surgical center.
  • Prohibition on “providers from using telemedicine or telehealth to obtain informed consent from patients or to conduct pre-abortion counseling sessions.”
  • Requiring a woman seeking an abortion to obtain an in-person physical examination.
  • Prohibition on abortions from providing the abortion pill via telemedicine.

Now, on September 8, the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overruled the federal district judge and sided with Indiana to allow the state to enforce these provisions while they are considered by the courts.

“All we hold today is that existing precedents provide strong grounds for concluding that Indiana is likely to prevail on the contested issues,” the court said. “To the extent that the injunction bars Indiana from enforcing [these provisions] it is stayed pending further order of this court.”

“This is a welcome ruling recognizing that Indiana is on solid legal ground in defending its laws,” Indiana Right to Life President and CEO Mike Fichter said in a statement. “It is revealing that in every issue at stake, abortion businesses seek to block provisions originally enacted to protect women’s health.”

The case is Whole Women’s Health Alliance v. Rokita.

Photo from Shutterstock.