Arizona’s governor signed a bill making it illegal for doctors to perform abortions based on the child’s sex or race. Heath professionals or physicians who don’t report known or suspected violations will face felony charges and civil fines and may be liable for damages. The law doesn’t require doctors to ask patients for their reason for seeking an abortion, but opponents of the law fear it will lead to such questioning and erode womens’ rights. The bill states:
“Evidence shows that minorities are targeted for abortion and that sex-selection abortion is also occurring in our country. There is no place for such discrimination and inequality in human society. Sex-selection and race-selection abortions are elective procedures that do not in any way implicate a woman’s health. The purpose of this legislation is to protect unborn children from prenatal discrimination in the form of being subjected to abortion based on the child’s sex or race by prohibiting sex-selection or race-selection abortions.”
Several states have also recently passed laws restricting abortions. This year, Missouri and Oklahoma have passed laws restricting late term abortions, and South Dakota recently required women to seek counseling at a pregnancy center and wait three days before obtaining an abortion. Kansas also enacted legislation restricting abortions this year.
Sources:
http://jurist.org/paperchase/2011/03/arizona-governor-outlaws-abortion-based-on-sex-or-race.php
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/30/us-arizona-abortion-idUSTRE72T0TH20110330