Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act
Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act
Plain Language Summary
# Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act (S. 6) **What the bill would do:** This bill would require healthcare providers to give the same level of medical care to any infant born alive during an abortion procedure as they would to any other newborn at the same stage of development. If a child is born alive, the bill mandates that the infant be immediately admitted to a hospital. Healthcare workers who witness a failure to provide this care would be legally required to report it to law enforcement.
Anyone who intentionally kills or attempts to kill a child born alive would face criminal prosecution. **Who it affects and key provisions:** The bill primarily affects abortion providers, hospitals, and other healthcare workers. Violations would result in criminal penalties including fines and up to five years in prison for providers who fail to provide adequate care or workers who fail to report violations. The bill establishes that these requirements apply when a child is born alive, regardless of the circumstances surrounding the abortion procedure. **Current status:** The bill was introduced in the 119th Congress but has not yet passed. It remains in the early stages of the legislative process.
CRS Official Summary
Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection ActThis bill establishes requirements for the degree of care a health care practitioner must provide in the case of a child born alive following an abortion or attempted abortion.Specifically, a health care practitioner who is present must (1) exercise the same degree of care as would reasonably be provided to any other child born alive at the same gestational age, and (2) ensure the child is immediately admitted to a hospital. Additionally, a health care practitioner or other employee who has knowledge of a failure to comply with the degree-of-care requirements must immediately report such failure to law enforcement.A health care practitioner who fails to provide the required degree of care, or a health care practitioner or other employee who fails to report such failure, is subject to criminal penalties—a fine, up to five years in prison, or both.An individual who intentionally kills or attempts to kill a child born alive is subject to prosecution for murder.The bill bars the criminal prosecution of a mother of a child born alive under this bill and allows her to bring a civil action against a health care practitioner or other employee for violations.
Latest Action
Cloture on the motion to proceed to the measure not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 52 - 47. Record Vote Number: 11. (CR S294-295)