Texas Governor Signs ‘Born Alive Act’ Protecting Babies Who Are Born Alive following a Failed Abortion
Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced last week that he has signed into law a bill that would protect infants who were born alive after an attempted abortion procedure. The “Born Alive Act” creates a doctor-patient relationship between the infant and the doctor, which requires that doctors “must exercise the same degree of professional skill, care, and diligence to preserve the life and health of the child as a reasonably diligent and conscientious physician would render to any other child born alive at the same gestational age.”
In announcing his signing of the bill, Gov. Abbott contrasted Texas with other states that passed bills allowing late-term abortions, CBN News reports. He said, in some states leaders support abortion until the last minute of pregnancy – even after a child is born. Not in Texas. I formally signed the Born Alive Act to make it illegal to kill a child who survives an abortion. It also ensures the baby receives needed medical care.”
Gov. Abbott said the bill, “Defends the sanctity of life and creates civil and criminal penalties for infanticide in Texas. It provides a baby who survives an abortion the full protection of the law in Texas and ensures that the baby receives the appropriate medical care.”
This issue came to light earlier this year after New York passed a bill allowing abortions late into the third trimester. Then, an exchange between Virginia Delegates Kathy Tran and Todd Gilbert about House Bill 2491 was viewed by millions. The incident took place during a hearing in the Courts and Justice subcommittee hearing. As Christian Headlines previously reported, Tran – a Democrat – presented the bill, including the measure that would require only one doctor to certify that a late-term abortion was necessary to keep a mother from dying or experiencing mental pain or harm. It also eliminated language saying the mental or physical harm must be “substantial” and irremediable,” Vox reports.
Gilbert, the Republican Committee chairman, pressed Tran, asking how late in the pregnancy a doctor could certify that an abortion was necessary. Tran admitted that under her bill, abortion would technically be allowed up until the moment of birth.
A few days later, Governor Ralph Northam addressed the bill in a radio interview. When the interviewer asked about a scenario in which a child had survived an abortion, Northam said, “the infant would be resuscitated if that’s what the mother and the family desired, and then a discussion would ensue between the physicians and the mother.”
A similar measure continues to stall in the U.S. House of Representatives. GOP House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said three Republican representatives “asked for unanimous consent for the House to consider the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act,” Town Hall reports. He said the Democrats blocked the measure for the 72nd, 73rd, and 74thtime.”
Scott Slayton writes at “One Degree to Another.”
Photo courtesy: Pexels/Shabaz Akram
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