On March 30, Indiana Governor Holcomb signed an executive order to cancel or postpone all non-invasive and non-essential health care facilities in Indiana. This order applies to all health-care providers however the discretion is left to them where services can be delayed or postponed if it causes harm to their patients. 

The World Health Organization classifies abortion as essential healthcare however many states have gone as far as to completely shut down clinics.

The order is said to have been pressured to happen by many pro-life organizations, members, and politicians. According to Time magazine, many states such as Texas, Ohio, Iowa, Alabama, and Oklahoma have already taken steps to temporarily ban procedures by clinics during the coronavirus outbreak.

The Indiana executive order does not completely ban abortion, meaning that some services are still available for Hoosiers and some clinics have remained open for emergency care.

After expressing the health care facilities that would be put on hold such as hospitals, surgical centers, vets, dental offices, dermatologists, and abortion clinics, Holcomb stated publicly “Unless, of course, by doing so would cause harm to the patient, in which case, I would leave up to the doctor to determine and decide. Any and all medical expertise and personal protective equipment first needs to go toward… defeating COVID-19.” 

U.S. Republican Representative for South Bend, Jackie Walorski publically sent a letter to Governor Holcomb classifying abortion as non-essential. She said, “Such a clarification would demonstrate Indiana’s commitment to the sanctity of life and to protecting not just the unborn, but all Hoosiers since it would help reduce the spread of coronavirus and conserve vital resources."

 

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All-Options Pregnancy Center is a national client-centered organization that provides support for people through pregnancy, parenting, abortion and adoption services. Executive Director of All-Options, Parker Dockray spoke on behalf of the organization and how they have been dealing with the effects of the pandemic during this time.

Dockray described one of the center’s primary source of care to people in Indiana, the Hoosier Abortion Fund. The program will be five years old this May. The fund provides diapers, pregnancy counseling, and support for all options. Dockray said that last week they got twice as many calls as they normally would get. This, she said is most likely a direct result from people getting laid off, losing wages, and losing insurance and health care aid. 

When distinguishing the difference between “non-essential” and “essential” healthcare, Dockray explained that dentist and doctor offices can only provide essential and critical care that cannot be postponed.  She said a lot of family clinics are not doing things like pap smears and doing things remotely to continue to help.

She continued to say that  “Abortion is an essential healthcare procedure in all times, and even more so in a pandemic not less. It’s not less essential in this kind of situation.”

The issue of abortion clinics being essential and the availability of women’s healthcare has been a raised issue and tense subject long before the pandemic arrived. Dockray expresses this by explaining abortion care in Indiana, stating,