Republican lawmakers in Missouri have advanced legislation dubbed the “Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act,” a bill supporters say is designed to protect infants born alive after attempted abortions. Critics, however, argue the proposal addresses a scenario that is already covered under existing homicide and medical care laws, and that GOP lawmakers have effectively made murder “double illegal.”
The Missouri House passed Senate Bill 999 this week in a 102-46 vote, sending the measure to Gov. Mike Kehoe for consideration, according to the Missouri Independent. Under the legislation, healthcare providers would be required to provide the same level of medical care to an infant born alive during or after an abortion attempt as they would to any other newborn at the same gestational age. The bill also establishes criminal penalties and civil liabilities for providers who fail to do so.
