Statewide Iowa (RI) — Tuesday will mark one year since Iowa’s fetal heartbeat abortion law went into effect. The law bans abortion when cardiac activity is detected, which could be as early as six weeks. The president of Planned Parenthood North Central States, Ruth Richardson, says abortions in Iowa fell 74 percent after the law went into effect, while Iowans who traveled to Minnesota and Nebraska clinics increased 182 percent.
Maggie DeWitte is the executive director of Pulse Life Advocates, which opposes abortion. She says more needs to be done to encourage Iowans not to travel out of state for abortions.
The law does have exceptions for rape, incest, life of the mother, and fetal abnormalities.
(Natalie Krebs, Iowa Public Radio contributed to this story)
