Iowa’s Abortion Restrictions Face Scrutiny Over Definitions and IVF Risks

This week, Iowa Supreme Court justices will hear arguments on whether to remove a moratorium on abortion restrictions enacted by Republican lawmakers last summer. With few exceptions, the law prohibits abortions after heart activity is discovered. That’s often around six weeks gestation, which is before most women realize they’re pregnant. While the law is not yet in effect, the Iowa Board of Medicine is responsible for developing guidelines for its implementation and enforcement.

State Senator Cindy Winckler, a Democrat from Davenport, claims the bill does not employ scientific words. “That particular bill, we got a lot of pushback from the medical field in the fact that the bill didn’t have a whole lot of medical terminology,” said Winckler.

At Monday’s Administrative Rules Review Committee hearing, officials from the Iowa Board of Medicine and the Iowa Attorney General’s office explained their interpretations of many of the definitions that had raised concerns among certain members of the public.

The measure prohibits doctors from performing abortions on an “unborn child,” a word for which Leif Olson of the Attorney General’s office claims they have updated instructions. “Because of concerns that were raised by the public and the board that is not a term that is used in the medical literature or that is not frequently used by practitioners, it specifies for reference by the general public that that includes all stages of development including embryo and fetus,” Olson said in a statement.

The bill also defines “woman,” which Olson thinks needs revisions. “That was in response to comments from the public that medical practitioners typically would not refer to a person under the age of 18 as a woman,” stated Olson.

Despite the adjustments, Winckler is concerned that in vitro fertilization, or IVF, is at risk. According to Winckler, the Administrative Rules Review Committee cannot help with this. “It would have to come from legislation,” Winckler added.

The legislative session could expire in the next several weeks. Winckler says IVF safeguards have not yet been passed, and she doubts they will be before lawmakers leave.