CHARLESTON, WV – Gov. Jim Justice hosted a ceremonial event today inside the Governor’s Reception Room in Charleston, signing into law a bill protecting babies who survive an attempted abortion procedure.
House Bill 4007 – also known as the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act – makes it so that If a physician performs or attempts to perform an abortion that results in a child being born that has a beating heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord, or definite movement of voluntary muscles, the baby is considered alive.
“This is an absolute no-brainer as far as I’m concerned,” Gov. Justice said. “I’ve said for a long time, even back before I took office as Governor, that I would support measures like this because every human life – born or unborn is precious and truly a gift from God.”
Under the new law, if a physician performs or attempts to perform an abortion that results in a child being born alive, the physician must exercise the same degree of reasonable medical judgment to preserve the life and health of the child as a physician would render to any other child born alive at the same gestational age.
The physician also must ensure the child is immediately transported and admitted to a hospital.
“If I had my way, I would stand up here and say I stand for life in all cases, all the time,” Gov. Justice said. “It’s unbelievable that we even have to go through this process for something that seems like it’s just common sense. But, at the same time, we should be really proud that we’re defending the lives of our most vulnerable. To God above, that baby is worth it.
“Today, we’re going to put a stake in the sand and say – for us, at least – we stand for life and we stand for the right stuff.”
The lead sponsor of the bill was Delegate Ruth Rowan of Hampshire County. HB 4007 was also sponsored by delegates Dean Jeffries, Jeffrey Pack, Zack Maynard, Eric Porterfield, Geoff Foster, Terry Waxman, Tom Bibby, Caleb Hanna, Trenton Barnhart, Larry Kump – many of whom were in attendance for the ceremonial signing.
The bill received widespread support on both sides of the aisle, passing unanimously in the West Virginia Senate and by a 92-6 margin in the West Virginia House of Delegates.