W.Va. House Approves Bill Criminalizing Fetal Injuries During Crimes Against Pregnant Women, USA

The West Virginia House on Wednesday approved 81-17 a bill... (SB 146) that would make it a separate crime to kill or injure a fetus during the commission of a crime against a pregnant woman, the AP/Huntington Herald-Dispatch reports (Messina, AP/Huntington Herald-Dispatch, 3/16). The Unborn Victims of Violence Act, which was approved by the state Senate last month, would allow perpetrators to be charged with battery, domestic assault, manslaughter and murder for harming an embryo or fetus anytime after conception. However, the bill would not apply to legal abortions or research conducted on human embryos outside the womb (Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report, 3/15). State Del. Carrie Webster (D) unsuccessfully tried to amend the bill to increase penalties against those who commit violent crimes against pregnant women rather than make it a separate crime to harm a fetus during such crimes, according to the AP/Herald-Dispatch. The bill now goes to Gov. Joe Manchin (D), who has said he will sign it. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, at least 15 other states have similar measures that apply to embryos and fetuses beginning at conception (AP/Huntington Herald-Dispatch, 3/16).


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