Editor’s note: The Portager publishes letters to the editor from the community. The opinions expressed are not published because they necessarily reflect those of the publication but because we feel they contribute meaningfully to the local discourse on matters of public interest.
President Trump made headlines last month for denouncing Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ six-week abortion ban as a “terrible thing and a terrible mistake.” He’s right. It is terrible, and Ohio’s own six-week proposal puts Portage County women at profound risk.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the nation’s leading group of reproductive health physicians, supports the right to access safe abortion as a core service that must be included in a larger menu of reproductive health options available to women.
Six-week bans, like the one supported by the Ohio Republican Party including District 72 State Rep. Gail Pavliga, will worsen the state’s rapidly increasing maternal mortality rate by forcing women and girls with underlying health conditions to give birth. And hampering OB/GYNs from making evidence-based recommendations that keep women safe will likely hasten their departure from the 330, a serious threat in a county which saw its only maternity ward close in late 2022. To save lives, we should be putting these decisions in the hands of women and their doctors, not the politicians in Columbus.
It’s important to consider that women in rural counties like Portage don’t just stop seeking abortion care following bans: Studies show that requests for mail-ordered medication abortion increased by 120% in the aftermath of Dobbs decision, and blue states like Virginia and Illinois bordering those with severe abortion limitations saw huge increases in so-called ‘abortion tourists’ from out of the state.
Given this, I hope that voters decide to follow President Trump’s guidance and vote YES on Issue 1.
— Chris Hook, Kent
The author received his Masters Degree from the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health in the Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health in 2016. He is a candidate for Kent City Council, Ward 4.
The Portager publishes a range of opinions from the community. To submit a letter to the editor, write to [email protected].