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House approves tighter criminal definition of abortion after heated debate; sponsors add protections for miscarriages and women seeking legal care
Summary
The Utah House passed HB12 on Jan. 29, 2010, narrowing the statutory definition of abortion and removing an exemption from prosecution for illegal abortions; sponsors added amendments to protect women who reasonably believed they were seeking lawful care and to limit criminal liability to high mental-state standards.
Representative Karl Wimmer, sponsor of House Bill 12, said the bill "narrowly defines an abortion as a medical procedure conducted by a physician or under the care of a physician" and removes an exemption from prosecution for illegal abortions. Wimmer framed the measure as a response to a specific case in Vernal and said the bill contains two principal changes: a statutory definition of abortion and removal of the prosecutorial exemption for women who seek illegal abortions.
The House adopted two amendments during floor debate intended to reduce unintended consequences.…
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