The substitute makes it a class D felony for a physician to perform a partial birth abortion unless necessary to preserve the life of the mother or to protect the mother from severe, long-term physical injury or physical disability. The substitute defines partial birth abortion. No impact on state funds.
Supporters say that partial birth abortions are never medically necessary.
Partial birth abortion is a 3 day procedure that is typically undertaken in the 20th to 26th week of a pregnancy. The procedure is extremely cruel in that the fetus is partially vaginally delivered and subsequently the fetus's skull is penetrated and the brain is removed by suction. At present there are approximately 3,000 to 4,000 partial birth abortions performed annually in the United States. Coalition On Truth. Those who oppose the bill say that the legislation is unconstitutionally vague in that it describes delivery and not viability.