Florida lawmakers postpone ‘fetal personhood’ bill after Alabama IVF ruling
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Republican legislators in Florida hit the pause button on a bill that would have given any “unborn child” new protections after opponents raised concerns it would impact women’s reproductive rights in ways similar to the Alabama IVF ruling.
The bill had passed easily through most committees in the Republican-led legislature until Democrats began raising concerns last week that the proposal was so broad that it might also impact in vitro fertilization treatments.
The legislation sought to define a fetus as an “unborn child” shielded by civil negligence laws. Supporters said the measure would bring civil law in line with existing state criminal law that allows for additional penalties against people charged with harming a pregnant woman.
Opponents called it an effort to establish “fetal personhood” that would put abortion providers and people who help women obtain an abortion at risk of being sued.
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