Ohio governor signs bill requiring burial of fetal remains

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Fetal remains from surgical abortions in Ohio must be cremated or buried under a bill signed Wednesday by Republican Gov. Mike DeWine.

The bill updates a current state law requiring that aborted fetuses be disposed of “in a humane manner,” but “humane” is not further defined.

The new law is a “vital piece of pro-life legislation,” said Mike Gonidakis, president of Ohio Right to Life. “Human life is precious and deserves to be both respected and protected,” he said.

As state attorney general, DeWine investigated allegations regarding Planned Parenthood’s treatment of fetal remains in 2015. His report found no evidence of the illegal disposal that was alleged, but it criticized the organization for disposing of fetal remains in landfills.

Planned Parenthood called the finding “inflammatory.” The ACLU of Ohio has said that clinics already follow “strict state-regulated procedures for the safe and appropriate handling of all biological tissue.”

DeWine has yet to act on another abortion-related bill sent him by lawmakers, which would ban the use of telemedicine to conduct abortions and impose criminal penalties on doctors who violate the law.