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Louisiana abortion news: House bans dismemberment abortion in new bill

Suzette Gutierrez Cachila May 02, 2016 10:10 AM EST

The Louisiana House of Representatives passed a new bill on Thursday, April 28 prohibiting the use of dismemberment abortion in the state.

The bill, called the Unborn Child Protection from Dismemberment Abortion Act (House Bill 1081), was passed with a vote of 83-0 in favor of the legislation.

Louisiana State Capitol, Baton Rouge. The house of representatives in session, view from gallery. | Wikimedia Commons/Jeffrey Schwartz

Dismemberment abortion refers to an abortion procedure called D&E, which is often used to abort babies in the second trimester of pregnancy. The procedure involves the use of instruments to tear off the baby's body parts while it is still alive in the womb.

Rep. Mike Johnson, who authored the bill, was glad that the bill was passed unanimously. He said the bill will protect babies from the "barbaric" abortion procedure.

"Louisiana has a long history of protecting the most vulnerable members of our society â€” unborn children. HB 1081 will further advance that cherished tradition," Johnson said in a Facebook post.

He added that records from the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals show that more than 1,000 babies are aborted using the D&E annually.

"Thankfully, that horror will now end very soon," he said.

Under the HB 1081, it is unlawful to perform dismemberment abortion unless it is needed to prevent "serious health risk" to the mother.

Nurses, medical staff, pharmacists and other employees involved in the abortion but who are acting at the instructions of a physician will not be held "liable for performing or attempting to perform a dismemberment abortion." In addition, mothers to whom the procedure is performed will not face punishment, according to the bill.

"Whoever violates the provisions of this Section shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars per incidence or occurrence, or imprisoned for not more than two years, or both," the legislation states.

The passage of HB 1081 is Louisiana's second victory against abortion. Early last month, the Louisiana House of Representatives passed a bill preventing abortions because of "genetic abnormality."

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