IU joining PPINK in lawsuit over new abortion law

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Indiana University has joined Planned Parenthood in a lawsuit that looks to fight the state’s new abortion law.

IU filed paperwork on Friday, stating that House Enrolled Act 1337 would make the university’s research on Alzheimer’s disease a criminal act.

HEA 1337 is set to go in effect on July 1. The law makes it a felony to acquire, receive, sell or transfer fetal tissue. Under the bill, the only way to dispose of an aborted fetus is through cremation or burial. 

Court documents state that the law “jeopardizes the personal liberty of IU research scientists who are unable to conform their conduct to the fetal tissue statute’s restrictions.”

A response filed by the Indiana Attorney General’s Office states “IU is not entitled to intervene as of right and cannot demonstrate the essential elements of factual or legal overlap required for permissive intervention.”

Planned Parenthood first filed suit in April.