PA Senate passes Down  Syndrome anti-abortion bill

Posted 11/26/19

HARRISBURG, PA — The Pennsylvania State Senate on November 20 passed a bill that would ban the abortion of fetuses that have Down Syndrome.

A press release from Senate Republicans noted …

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PA Senate passes Down  Syndrome anti-abortion bill

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HARRISBURG, PA — The Pennsylvania State Senate on November 20 passed a bill that would ban the abortion of fetuses that have Down Syndrome.

A press release from Senate Republicans noted that such a ban in already in place for fetuses based solely on their gender. It says, “Nothing in the bill would interfere with the existing ability of a woman to obtain an abortion in cases of rape, incest, or endangerment to the mother.”

Sen. Scott Martin, who supported the bill, said, “Individuals with Down Syndrome have gone on to enjoy extremely happy and fulfilling lives.”

But Gov. Tom Wolf has vetoed the legislation. He said in a statement, “This legislation is a restriction on women and medical professionals and interferes with women’s healthcare and the crucial decision-making between patients and their physicians. Physicians and their patients must be able to make choices about medical procedures based on best practices and standards of care. The prohibitions under this bill are not consistent with the fundamental rights vested by the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution.”

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