Indiana Supreme Court Blocks Public Release of Abortion Reports

The Indiana Supreme Court unanimously ruled on June 29 that terminated pregnancy reports must remain confidential as protected medical records. This decision upholds a previous December Court of Appeals ruling and blocks a settlement between the Indiana Department of Health and the anti-abortion group Voices for Life, which would have allowed the public release of reports doctors are required by state law to file for individual abortions.

The legal challenge was initiated by Indianapolis OB-GYNs Dr. Caitlin Bernard and Dr. Caroline Rouse, who argued that the reports could be used to identify patients. The dispute followed a shift in state policy after Governor Mike Braun took office in January 2025, leading the Indiana Department of Health to reverse its previous stance and agree to release the records. Voices for Life contended the documents were necessary to monitor compliance with Indiana's near-total abortion ban enacted in 2022.

Representatives for the physicians, including the Lawyering Project and the Center for Reproductive Rights, welcomed the ruling as a vital step in protecting private medical information. The Indiana Attorney General's office, which had appealed the confidentiality ruling, is currently reviewing the court's order to evaluate further options. The Indiana Department of Health continues to release only aggregated quarterly data.