Utah First State Requiring Anesthesia for 20-Week Abortions
03-29-2016
Utah has become the first state to require doctors to give anesthesia to women having abortions at 20 weeks or later.
Republican Gov. Gary Herbert signed the bill Monday.
"The governor is adamantly pro-life. He believes in not only erring on the side of life, but also minimizing any pain that may be caused to an unborn child," Jon Cox, spokesman for the Republican governor, said in an emailed statement.
The goal is to protect unborn babies from feeling pain because supporters say evidence shows babies in the womb suffer pain just like the rest of us.
The bill includes an exemption in cases where the anesthesia could hurt the mother. Other states have tried to enact similar laws, but none have succeeded.
