While the bill won t take effect for 90 days after the end of this year s legislative session, (which could be sometime this month), it s still making waves in the medical community. Attorneys are poring over the legislation to see how abortion providers will have to change their operations. Some doctors are waiting for the seemingly inevitable lawsuit that could stop the bill from becoming active immediately while litigation proceeds in the courts.
All of this does not mean, however, that there hasn t been a chilling effect. Some physicians have had to calm anxious staffers at abortion clinics who are afraid about potential criminal liability.
By Michael W. Chapman | April 28, 2021 | 3:48pm EDT
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R). (Getty Images)
(CNS News) Arizona s Republican governor, Doug Ducey, signed a bill into law on Tuesday that outlaws the abortion of unborn babies that have genetic abnormalities, such as Down syndrome, and abortion based on sex or race of the child. Exceptions apply when the child has a lethal fetal condition or when the mother s life or health is at risk, said the governor s office.
“There’s immeasurable value in every single life regardless of genetic makeup,” said Governor Ducey in a press release. “We will continue to prioritize protecting life in our preborn children, and this legislation goes a long way in protecting real human lives. My sincere thanks to Senator Nancy Barto for her leadership and work on this life-saving issue.”
AZ Gov Doug Ducey Signs Bill Banning Abortion of Babies With Genetic Abnormalities cnsnews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from cnsnews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Arizona governor signs abortion ban for genetic issues
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Murphy Bannerman, of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona, speaks at a news conference as number Arizona reproductive health, rights, and justice advocates protest prior to delivering a petition to Gov. Doug Ducey to veto SB 1457, the latest abortion bill passed by the state legislature last week, at the Arizona Capitol Monday, April 26, 2021, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
PHOENIX – Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey on Tuesday signed a sweeping anti-abortion bill that bans the procedure if the woman is seeking it solely because a fetus has a genetic abnormality such as Down syndrome.