Several laws have been adopted in Ohio dealing with abortion and other life issues.

For a summary of these laws, click here.

Below are links to the text of some of these laws.

SOME KEY OHIO ABORTION LAWS

Definition of "abortion"; abortion is practice of medicine or surgery (only a physician can perform), R.C. 2919.11

Parental Consent Statute, R.C. 2919.121

Partial Birth Abortion Ban, R.C. 2919.151

Woman's Right to Know Law (informed consent & 24-hour waiting period), R.C. 2317.56 

Abortion "Freedom of Conscience" Statute, R.C. 4731.91

Abortion Manslaughter (Born-alive Infants Protection), R.C. 2919.13

Experimentation on and sale of aborted fetus or embryo prohibited, R.C. 2919.14

Abortion Reporting, R.C. 3701.79

Courts may not order a woman to have an abortion, R.C. 2701.15

No agency or person may order a woman to have an abortion; refusal to consent to abortion cannot cause the loss of any benefits, rights or privileges, R.C. 5101. 55 (A) & (B)

Public Policy to Prefer Childbirth over Abortion, R.C. 9.041

Restriction on use of state and local funds for abortion, R.C. 5101.55 (C) and R.C. 5101.56

State funds may not pay for state employee insurance coverage for nontherapeutic abortion, R.C. 124.85

FETAL HOMICIDE AND ASSAULT

All Ohio homicide and assault statutes apply to killing or injuring unborn children by prohibiting the "unlawful termination of another's pregnancy" or causing physical harm to "another's unborn". See, for example, Ohio's murder statute, R.C. 2903.02 and Ohio's assault statute, R.C. 2903.13. These provisions apply to unborn children from fertilization until birth, but do not apply to consensual abortion or actions by the pregnant woman, R.C. 2903.09.

WRONGFUL BIRTH AND WRONGFUL LIFE

 "Wrongful Birth" and "Wrongful Life" lawsuits are prohibited in Ohio, R.C. 2305.116

ASSISTED SUICIDE

Assisted Suicide is against the public policy of Ohio and injunctions can be issued against its performance, R.C. 3795.01, R.C. 3795.02, and R.C. 3795.03. Assisting a suicide is also grounds for suspending or revoking a license by the boards regulating several health care professions, such as physicians under R.C. 4731.22 (B)(37).