The Washington PostDemocracy Dies in Darkness

A sponsor of an Ohio abortion bill thinks you can reimplant ectopic pregnancies. You can’t.

May 10, 2019 at 11:26 a.m. EDT
A doctor performs an ultrasound scan on a pregnant woman at a hospital in Chicago in August. (Teresa Crawford/AP)

An abortion bill introduced in Ohio’s legislature drew scorn this week for including misinformation about a dangerous medical condition that can affect pregnant women. Some health experts see the bill’s language as another example of politicians trying to legislate women’s health without considering the medical implications.

The House bill, which was first introduced in April by Ohio state Rep. John Becker (R), seeks to limit insurance coverage for abortion procedures where the mother’s life is not endangered. It would also bar coverage for drugs or devices that prevent the implantation of a fertilized egg, which experts say could affect certain kinds of IUDs.