A US state has introduced an extreme anti-abortion bill that orders doctors to perform a procedure that does not exist in medical science – or face life in jail.
Governors in Ohio say medics must re-implant ectopic pregnancies, which happen when a fertilised egg implants itself outside of the womb, or face murder charges.
The condition is a life-threatening and can kill a woman if the embryonic tissue grows unchecked. In countries with strict abortion laws, ectopic pregnancies are one of the few exceptions that allow women to get the procedure, as it is impossible for the egg to develop into a child.
The Ohio bill is the most extreme of its kind to be introduced in the US, as more states move to tighten abortion laws under Donald Trump’s administration.
Gynaecologists repeatedly told legislators it was medically impossible to re-implant the pregnancy but have been ignored.
In addition to ordering doctors to do something impossible or face ‘abortion murder’ charges, the bill bans abortion outright and defines a fertilized egg as an ‘unborn child’.
It affects women and children as young as 13, who can be punished with life in prison if they seek an abortion.
It has also introduced a new charge, aggravated abortion murder, which applies to anyone held under detention for a crime who then has or performs an abortion. ‘Aggravated abortion murder’ is punishable by death while anyone found guilty of ‘abortion murder’ faces a life sentence.
Doctors have reacted with disgust at the bill on social media. Ohio obstetrician and gynecologist Dr David Hackney said: I don’t believe I’m typing this again but, that’s impossible. We’ll all be going to jail’
Ohio bill orders doctors to ‘reimplant ectopic pregnancy’ or face 'abortion murder' charges | Ohio | The Guardian https://t.co/N7vgiKD5gr— David N Hackney MD, FACOG (@DavidNHackney) November 29, 2019
It has also caused disgust among pro-choice groups. Reproductive rights organisation NARAL, based in Washington, tweeted: ‘Let me type that loudly so you can understand how perverse this is: Lawmakers in Ohio who call themselves pro-life think that in some instances, a pregnant person should be put to death for having an abortion.’
The bill is sponsored by representatives Candice Keller and Ron Hood, and co-sponsored by 19 members of Ohio’s 99-member House. Anti-abortion group Ohio Right-to-Life have yet to comment on the bill as they are closed for thanksgiving. However president Mike Gonidakis said he was still reading through the legislation, which is 700 pages long, the Guardian reports
