(AP) — The Indiana Senate has approved legislation that would largely ban a commonly used second-trimester abortion procedure.
The Republican-dominated chamber voted 38-10 Tuesday in favor of the bill, which now heads to Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb.
The measure would ban dilation and evacuation abortions that the legislation calls “dismemberment abortion.” It would make it illegal for doctors to use instruments such as clamps, forceps and scissors to remove a fetus from the womb unless there’s “serious risk of substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function” to the woman.
Doing so would become a felony punishable by one to six years in prison.
Abortion rights groups argue that banning the procedure would wrongly interfere with private medical decisions.
The House approved the bill in February on a 71-25 vote.
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Meanwhile at the federal level….
Protecting babies who survive an abortion is the goal of the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. Some Hoosier lawmakers are supporting the act and have signed a petition to bring it to a vote in the U.S. House. They include 8th District Republican Congressman Larry Bucshon…
The bill also requires medical professionals, clinical staff, to report any violations to state and federal law enforcement.
Anyone who violates the requirements would be subject to fines, imprisonment of as long as five years, or both. Additionally, this bill provides the mother of the abortion survivor a civil cause of action and protection from prosecution.
Bucshon said quote “ it’s unthinkable that any health care professional would not do everything in their power to save a baby born alive after a failed abortion. He said he stands with his colleagues in signing the discharge petition
AUDIO/BUCSHON 2 :08 Q; UP FOR A VOTE
A discharge petition would force a vote in the House.
Indiana is one of 24 states which lack protection for born-alive infants.
