Abortion bill lands on governor’s desk as secretly recorded video emerges

Audio By Carbonatix

Spurred by a newly released undercover video, legislators sent a measure to Gov. Doug Ducey today requiring doctors to do everything possible to save the life of a baby born alive after an abortion, even telling them what that entails.

The 18-11 vote in the Senate came just hours after the House gave its approval on a 34-22 margin.

Ducey has signed every abortion restriction that has reached his desk since taking office more than two years ago. But spokesman Daniel Scarpinato would not comment on what fate this bill will meet, saying the governor wants to review the final language.

Officially, Arizona law already requires doctors to take actions in such situations. But SB1367 spells out what are considered signs of life, including breathing, a heartbeat, umbilical cord pulsation or “definite movement of voluntary muscles.”

Potentially more significant, it directs the Arizona Department of Health Services to come up with rules on exactly what medical professionals have to do in case of a live birth, including the possibility of resuscitation. And it would require clinics that perform abortions after 20 weeks of gestation to have staff on hand qualified to deal with premature births.

Wednesday’s votes came over objections of some lawmakers who said medical evidence shows that a fetus at 21 weeks cannot survive outside the womb.

Read more at AZ Capitol Times

Corrie O'Connor