Administration
Office 614-644-8901

March 20, 2020
Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohio
Cincinnati Surgery Center
2314 Auburn Ave.
Cincinnati, OH 43219
Via Email -

sbertuleit@ppswo.org

Re: March 17, 2020, Ohio Dept. of Health Order
Dear Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohio,
On March 17, 2020, the Ohio Department of Health issued an order pursuant to the
Department’s powers under R.C. 3701.13. That order (attached) cancelled all non-essential
or elective surgeries and procedures utilizing personal protective equipment (“PPE”) as of
5:00 p.m. on March 18, 2020. The order was issued, in part, to preserve PPE for health care
providers who are battling the COVID-19 pandemic that is spreading in our state and also to
preserve critical hospital capacity and resources.
The Ohio Department of Health has received a complaint that your facility has been
performing or continues to offer to perform surgical abortions, which necessarily involve the
use of PPE. On behalf of the Department, you and your facility are ordered to immediately
stop performing non-essential and elective surgical abortions. Non-essential surgical
abortions are those that can be delayed without undue risk to the current or future health of
a patient. The Department of Health has outlined criteria to consider when determining
whether a procedure is essential (see attached order). If you or your facility do not
immediately stop performing non-essential or elective surgical abortions in compliance with
the attached order, the Department of Health will take all appropriate measures.
This is an unprecedented time in the state’s history and everyone must do their part
to help stop the spread of this disease. We look forward to receiving your confirmation that
you and your facility are complying with the attached order. You may contact me by email at
jonathan.fulkerson@ohioattorneygeneral.gov
Sincerely,
/s/ Jonathan Fulkerson
Jonathan Fulkerson
Deputy Attorney General

30 East Broad Street, 17th Floor   Columbus, Ohio   43215
www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov