Abortion

Louisiana Proposes Bill To Outlaw “Aggravated Criminal Abortion by Dismemberment”

Does that make abortions performed by physicians "legal abortion by dismemberment?"

Senator Rick Ward, III (D-Maringouin). [img src]

The state of Louisiana is introducing a bill that will forbid anyone but a licensed physician from performing abortions in the state.

And, in the process, it appears to also define any non-medication induced abortion performed by a “non-physician” as “dismemberment.”

Via NOLA.com:

Abortions performed “by any individual who is not a physician licensed by the state of Louisiana” would be a crime under legislation filed Thursday by Sen. Rick Ward III, D-Maringouin. Ward said his Senate Bill 330 would apply to registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, physicians’ assistants, nurses aides and those with no medical training at all.


Ward’s bill also would create the crime of “aggravated criminal abortion by dismemberment,” in which the non-physician uses clamps, forceps or other means to dismember the fetus during the abortion. Anyone convicted of that crime would face a prison sentence of at least one year and up to 10 years, a minimum $10,000 fine and a maximum $100,000 fine, or both a fine and jail term.

Another interesting part of the bill?  Doctors must certify in writing that a woman undergoing a procedure to remove a miscarried fetus or a failing pregnancy did in fact need the procedure for that reason, with files and ultrasounds to prove the diagnosis.