Ohio abortion ban unclear if 10-year-old could’ve gotten exception

• Last month, a 10-year-old child traveled from Ohio to Indiana to get an abortion after she was raped.
• Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said the child didn’t have to leave the state for treatment because her age puts her at greater risk.
• But some doctors and attorneys say he may be wrong, given Ohio’s abortion ban is vague and a person’s age alone wouldn’t qualify as an exception.

The story of a 10-year-old girl from Ohio who crossed state lines to Indiana for an abortion has raised questions about whether she qualified for Ohio’s legal exemption to prevent irreversible injury or death. 

Hours after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned federal abortion protections last month, Ohio’s Senate Bill 23 — also known as the heartbeat bill — took effect, banning almost all abortions once fetal cardiac activity can be detected, which is at about six weeks gestation. There are no exemptions for rape or incest.