Kansas protects babies born alive during abortions

The Kansas legislature on Wednesday overrode Governor Laura Kelly’s veto of legislation to protect babies born alive during an abortion procedure. The bill requires healthcare providers and physicians to provide the same level of care to an infant born alive during an abortion that they would to an infant born alive under different circumstances. A violator could be charged with a felony, resulting in a year’s probation for a first-time offender. The law will go into effect in July. 

Why did the governor veto it? Opponents said the bill is unnecessary since Kansas protects babies after 22 weeks of gestation—roughly around when most babies can survive birth. Kelly also said the federal Born Alive Infants Protection Act of 2002 already protects these babies. However, the federal law does not impose any penalties for refusing to help a newborn. 

Dig deeper: Listen to my report on the Doubletake podcast about the woman who was instrumental in the passing of the Born Alive Infants Protection Act of 2002.