CHARLESTON, W.Va. – West Virginia Senate Bill 10 also known as the “Second trimester method abortion-ban” passed the House today and now advances to the Governor for signature.
This legislation seeks to make illegal the most common and safest abortion procedure during the second trimester of pregnancy. Both the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists West Virginia Section and the WV State Medical Association oppose the legislation.
The following statements can be attributed to Jennifer Meinig, Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of West Virginia, a non-partisan statewide organization dedicated to assuring the Bill of Rights and rights guaranteed by the Constitution are preserved for each new generation:
“We are disappointed that the Legislature has once again put aside the needs of women in WV in favor of advancing a political agenda. Each year the Legislature encroaches further and further on women’s health. We can’t help but ask ourselves, when will it stop?”
“Every court to consider these bans has found them to be unconstitutional, including the recent cases in Oklahoma and Kansas. We now look to the Governor, where we hope he will make right this wrong and veto this dangerous legislation.”
“The West Virginia Legislature is again attacking access to health care of women across this state. SB 10 is nothing more than an attempt to turn back the clock and legislate the doctor-patient relationship.”
“Given the looming budget deficit and the outpouring of individuals leaving this state, it is disheartening that the legislature has decided to focus their attention on a woman’s relationship with her doctor.”