Post by Logan on Feb 14, 2016 7:48:39 GMT -6
JUNEAU — A North Pole senator introduced a bill Friday that would require Alaska doctors to determine whether a fetus could survive outside of the womb before performing abortions.
The bill also would add viable fetuses to the state’s Child in Need of Aid laws and allow them to be surrendered to the doctor or hospital employee where the abortion is performed if the woman is unwilling or unable to care for the child.
Republican Senate Majority Leader John Coghill said the purpose of his bill was to introduce new restrictions and principles to late-term abortions. The bill allows for abortions if the doctor performing the procedure determines the fetus would not be able to survive outside the womb.
The bill does not specify a length of time into a pregnancy at which a fetus would be considered viable, rather it defines viable as meaning capable of surviving outside of the woman’s womb with or without artificial aid.
Read more: juneauempire.com/state/2016-02-14/senator-introduces-bill-ban-late-term-abortion
The bill also would add viable fetuses to the state’s Child in Need of Aid laws and allow them to be surrendered to the doctor or hospital employee where the abortion is performed if the woman is unwilling or unable to care for the child.
Republican Senate Majority Leader John Coghill said the purpose of his bill was to introduce new restrictions and principles to late-term abortions. The bill allows for abortions if the doctor performing the procedure determines the fetus would not be able to survive outside the womb.
The bill does not specify a length of time into a pregnancy at which a fetus would be considered viable, rather it defines viable as meaning capable of surviving outside of the woman’s womb with or without artificial aid.
Read more: juneauempire.com/state/2016-02-14/senator-introduces-bill-ban-late-term-abortion