Signed by Governor Jim Justice, Jr.

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes requirements for abortions resulting in premature birth.

Highlights:

• Requires a physician that performs, or attempts to perform, an abortion, which then results in a child born alive, to (Article 2P):

• Exercise the same degree of reasonable medical judgement to preserve the life and health of the child as a physician would render to any other child born at the same gestational age; and

• Ensure that the child is immediately transported and admitted to a hospital.

• Requires a person who has knowledge of the failure to comply with the requirements of this act to report the failure to the applicable licensing board (Article 2P).

• Specifies that any physician or other licensed medical professional who violates this act is considered to have breached the standard of care owed to patients and is therefore subject to discipline from the applicable licensure board for that conduct, which may include the loss of professional license to practice (Article 2P).

Full Bill Text