Ohio doctors oppose 24‑hour abortion waiting period as study finds women lack pill‑use information

Ohio physicians testified before the Senate Health Committee that House Bill 347, which would require a 24‑hour waiting period and state‑mandated counseling before an abortion, creates unnecessary barriers and treats abortion differently from other procedures. They argued the bill conflicts with the state's 2023 constitutional amendment guaranteeing reproductive rights and could force doctors to relay debunked reversal information. The bill passed the Ohio House in March and awaits further Senate action, while a Franklin County court has paused enforcement.

A peer‑reviewed study of 362 women who took the abortion pill mifepristone reported that many felt inadequately informed about physical, emotional, and mental effects. Respondents highlighted concerns about pain, bleeding, incomplete abortions, and long‑term mental health impacts, and called for more detailed counseling and follow‑up ultrasounds. The findings raise questions about the adequacy of informed‑consent practices in medical abortion care.