Missouri Lawmakers Advance Yet Another Anti-Choice bill
A panel of Missouri lawmakers approved legislation that would ban abortions after the 20th week of pregnancy unless two doctors conclude it is necessary to save the life of the mother. Doctors who violate the law would be guilty of a felony.
The House Health Care Policy Committee endorsed the bill by 9-1 vote.
The legislation, sponsored by House Majority Leader Tim Jones, R-Eureka, goes now to the full house; a similar bill is awaiting a Senate committee hearing.
The bill would require doctors to determine whether a fetus older than 20 weeks would be viable outside of the mother’s womb.
That determination would be based on tests of the fetus’ gestational age, weight and lung function.
The law would change the definition of viability to include life that can be sustained outside of the womb with or without life support, instead of life that can be continued indefinitely.