Senator David Sater (R-Cassville) is offering a bill that would prohibit physicians in Missouri from performing abortions when the only reason the woman wants it is that the child has or could have Down syndrome. Senator Jill Schupp (D-Creve Coeur) called legislation political.
Sen. Jill Schupp (D-Creve Coeur)
“I think what we’re going to see is a lot of anti-abortion and anti-choice bills based on the phony anti-Planned Parenthood videos that we saw,” said Schupp. “I think this was opportunistic in a big election year, where we are going to elect so many statewide officials and a President. None of this stuff happened by accident. I think this is another attempt on the part of anti-choice legislators to put their agenda forward to end a woman’s right to choose.”
Ohio and North Dakota have passed similar laws and pro-choice advocates there argue that those violate the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe vs. Wade ruling, which allows women to have an abortion until the fetus is viable.
Senator David Sater (R) (photo courtesy; Missouri Senate)
Sater’s proposal says a doctor would have to confirm that a diagnosis of Down syndrome was not the sole reason for a patient wanting the abortion.
“Obviously there’s no way without absolutely violating HIPAA law, that proof could be provided or should be provided about the health of a fetus,” said Schupp.
Doctors who break Sater’s proposed law would face up to one year in prison and a fine of up to one-thousand dollars.
Sater said nearly 90% of Down syndrome babies in the womb are being aborted in the U.S.
