--- title: Kasich Signs Law Banning Down Syndrome Abortions description: Ohio Gov. John Kasich signed into law a ban on abortions if the fetus is diagnosed with Down syndrome in the womb. canonical: https://time.com/5078407/ohio-abortions-down-syndrome/ author: Jamie Ducharme article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2017-12-23T15:25:58.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-02-23T18:40:28.133Z article:section: Politics og:title: Ohio Governor Signs Down Syndrome Abortion Ban into Law og:description: Critics say it's unconstitutional og:url: https://time.com/5078407/ohio-abortions-down-syndrome/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt115b946ee37049e6/6988f675929fadaf91bef03c/john-kasich.jpeg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 3600 og:image:height: 2025 og:image:alt: John Kasich Signs "Two Paths: America Divided Or United" og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Ohio Governor Signs Down Syndrome Abortion Ban into Law twitter:description: Critics say it's unconstitutional twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt115b946ee37049e6/6988f675929fadaf91bef03c/john-kasich.jpeg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Ohio Gov. John Kasich Just Signed a Ban on Abortions After Down Syndrome Diagnoses into Law > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: August 2026. ## TIME D.C. Brief: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition D.C. Brief is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. Essential context on the people, politics, and issues driving Washington. D.C. Brief goes beyond the Washington headlines to explain the politics, personalities and power dynamics shaping what happens next. Senior correspondent Philip Elliott brings sharp context to the issues driving the capital, connecting the decisions made in Washington to the institutions, industries and people they affect. 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Brief is TIME's Washington newsletter, written by senior correspondent Philip Elliott. It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, three times a week. It reaches 85,000 subscribers with a 37.0% open rate as of August 2026. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters.  by [Jamie Ducharme](https://time.com/author/jamie-ducharme/)  ## Jamie Ducharme Ducharme is a contributor to TIME. Dec 23, 2017 3:25 PM UTC  Ohio Gov. John Kasich speaks at Books and Books in Coral Gables, Florida. Ohio Gov. John Kasich speaks at Books and Books in Coral Gables, Florida.Johnny Louis—FilmMagic  by [Jamie Ducharme](https://time.com/author/jamie-ducharme/)  ## Jamie Ducharme Ducharme is a contributor to TIME. Dec 23, 2017 3:25 PM UTC Ohio Gov. John Kasich on Friday signed into law a ban on abortions if the fetus is diagnosed with Down syndrome in the womb — even as critics warn that the measure could be unconstitutional. The law, which is set to take effect in 90 days, will not only bar women from seeking an abortion following a diagnosis of Down syndrome — a genetic disorder that results in a number of developmental, intellectual and physical abnormalities, [according to the Mayo Clinic](https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/down-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20355977) — but also slap physicians who perform the procedure with felony criminal charges, the [Cincinatti _Enquirer_ reports](https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/politics/2017/12/22/ohio-gov-john-kasich-signs-down-syndrome-abortion-ban/966082001/). Under the law, doctors could face 18 months in prison, a $5,000 fine, the loss of their medical license and potential lawsuits in the event of patient injury or death. A federal judge in Indiana struck down similar legislation, [the Chicago _Tribune_ reports](http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/news/ct-indiana-abortion-ruling-20170925-story.html), deeming it unconstitutional. (The state’s attorney general [has said he will appeal the decision](https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2017/09/25/federal-judge-blocks-indianas-new-abortion-law/699590001/).) A ban is on the books in North Dakota, the _Enquirer_ adds, but it is not enforced because the state’s only abortion clinic does not perform the procedure after 16 weeks of pregnancy. Down syndrome is often diagnosed between the 15th and 20th weeks, [according to the American Pregnancy Association](http://americanpregnancy.org/birth-defects/down-syndrome/). Kasich has long supported such legislation, even though he declined to sign “the heartbeat bill,” which [would have prevented abortion after a fetal heartbeat was detected](https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/politics/2016/12/13/kasich-vetoes-heartbeat-bill-passes-20-week-ban/95372940/), for fear it would be found unconstitutional, according to the _Enquirer._ Down syndrome and abortions has always been [a controversial topic](https://www.npr.org/2017/12/13/570173685/down-syndrome-families-divided-over-abortion-ban). While many experts believe women should have ultimate say over the decision to continue or terminate a pregnancy, some Down syndrome advocates fear that children with the condition [are in danger of disappearing](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/down-syndrome-iceland/). ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/5078407/ohio-abortions-down-syndrome/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/5078407/ohio-abortions-down-syndrome/"},"headline":"Ohio Gov. 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