West Virginia’s governor signed into law a ban on aborting children based on disabilities on World Down Syndrome Day, protecting millions of unborn children with chromosomal disorders.
QUICK FACTS:
- West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice signed a ban on disability based abortions on Monday, according to The Christian Post.
- The bill, Senate Bill 468, requires that abortions only be performed in the event of a medical emergency.
- The pro-life group Susan B. Anthony List strongly supported the law, calling it “a bold step forward today in the fight against eugenic discrimination in America.”
WHAT THE BILL STATES:
- “Except in a medical emergency or a nonmedically viable fetus, a licensed medical professional may not perform or attempt to perform or induce an abortion, unless the patient acknowledges that the abortion is not being sought because of a disability,” continued SB 468.
- “The licensed medical professional shall document these facts in the patient’s chart and report such with the [Commissioner of the Bureau for Public Health].”
BACKGROUND:
- Gov. Justice also signed Senate Bill 647 Monday, prohibiting those with disabilities from being discriminated against when seeking an organ transplant.
- World Down Syndrome Day “made for the perfect day to sign SB 647 and SB 468. Both bills give deserved respect to our Down Syndrome community,” Justice tweeted.
