WASHINGTON (AP) — Doctors performing late-term abortions would be required to take steps to give the fetus the best chance of survival, according to a Republican bill the House plans to debate this week.
If the fetus seems capable of surviving outside the womb, the legislation requires the presence of a second, neonatal doctor to provide care and rush it to a hospital.
The provisions are part of a broader bill that would criminalize most abortions beginning with the 20th week of pregnancy.
GOP leaders abruptly postponed a vote on similar legislation in January. That reversal came after Republican women and moderates objected that a rape victim would only be exempted from the abortion ban if she had reported her assault to a law enforcement agency.
The new version of the bill drops that requirement and allows rape victims to receive late-term abortions if they receive counseling or medical care within 48 hours of the procedure. The women had complained that requiring a report to law enforcement officials was unduly harsh and could portray the GOP as insensitive toward women.
Much of the measure was described last week by GOP aides and lobbyists. The bill’s entire text was posted online on Monday, including provisions specifying the efforts required to save the baby’s life.
Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Filed under: “That which we cannot prohibit outright, we can make prohibitively expensive.”
I think the Republican leadership should take all steps to help the Republican party survive.That bill isn’t one of them.
If the person is not given a choice but by law must unnecessarily spend, spend, spend, then personally I’d sue them to force them to at least pick up the tab, what is it now $400K from birth to 18, then add in college, etc, etc, etc…
in addition…
women will be required to wear a Scarlet ‘A’… for abortion… to make it easier for companies to discriminate…
women will be required to raise the child with no help from the Federal Government…
if women apply for state aide (allowed) they will be required to attend church and raise the child with the appropriate religious fealty…
women are not allowed birth control because clearly an abortion proves that they are both amoral and immoral…
NO GOP war on women here…
Stupid is as stupid does! This is what happens with science luddites.