CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Over objections from doctors and medical groups, the West Virginia Senate approved a bill Wednesday that would outlaw the most common and safest procedure for second-trimester abortions.
By a 24-9 vote, senators passed legislation (SB 10) that bans so-called “dismemberment abortions.” The procedure was spotlighted in a series of videos from anti-abortion activists that targeted Planned Parenthood last year.
“What this does is, it bans the procedure from being performed on a live baby,” said Sen. Robert Karnes, R-Upshur. “We’re literally talking about ripping an unborn child, piece by piece, out of the womb.”
Medical professionals say the dilation and evacuation procedure is the safest way to terminate a pregnancy after 13 weeks. The two doctors in the Senate — Ron Stollings, D-Boone, and Tom Takubo, R-Kanawha — voted against the bill.
According to the bill, doctors could have their licenses revoked if they perform the procedure. “This clouds the OB-GYN doctor’s ability to make a good, clear decision…
