More protection for unborn children in Tennessee is coming. State Senator Bill Ketron told WGNS...
One of the latest bills to pass the senate this year was a bill dealing with abortions. Senate Bill 0766 prohibits abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy except to preserve the life and health of the mother. The House Bill will have to pass before it can be signed into law. Current law allows for abortions in Tennessee up to 22 weeks (viability).
Twenty-two states impose prohibitions after a certain number of weeks with 15 of them putting that limit at 22 weeks of pregnancy. Some states even allow for abortions at 24 weeks. Virginia and Iowa allow for abortions at 28 weeks or the 3rd trimester of pregnancy.
Tennessee Bill Summery:
Generally under present law, if all other requirements for a lawful abortion are met, an abortion may be performed as follows:
(1) During the first three months of pregnancy, if the abortion or attempt to procure a miscarriage is performed with the pregnant woman's consent and pursuant to the medical judgment of the pregnant woman's attending physician;
(2) After three months, but before viability of the fetus, if the abortion or attempt to procure a miscarriage is performed with the pregnant woman's consent, by the pregnant woman's attending physician, pursuant to the attending physician's medical judgment; or
Changes: This bill revises the above provisions to make the provisions in (2) applicable "after three months, but before 20 weeks or viability of the fetus" and to make (3) applicable to abortions performed "after 20 weeks or during viability," so that under this bill abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy will be allowed only when necessary to preserve the life or health of the pregnant woman.
