North Carolina 'born-alive' abortion bill clears Senate

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A bill requiring doctors and nurses to protect and care for children born alive during a failed late-term abortion cleared the North Carolina Senate on Monday, handing social conservatives a victory that could ultimately be undone by the Democratic governor.

The Republican-drafted legislation specifies that health care practitioners should grant those children born alive the same protections as any other newborn patient. Those who don't do so could face a felony and active prison time, along with potential $250,000 fines and other monetary damages. A mother can't be prosecuted, but health care providers who fail to report any improper care to authorities could be charged.

"This has nothing to do with limiting abortion in any way," said Republican Sen. Joyce Krawiec, the bill's sponsor, in floor debate. "This bill changes nothing except how that born-alive infant is treated."

Abortion-rights lawmakers and activists strongly oppose the bill, saying the problem it attempts to address is nonexistent. They also say that state medical licensing boards and current criminal laws already punish doctors and nurses who fail to offer care to a newborn. Rather, they argue, the measure seeks to force medical actions between a physician and a pregnant woman, interfering with her right to an abortion.

"It's about political points, and I stand with women and their doctors, and I will not participate in this slide toward overturning Roe (versus) Wade," said Sen. Natasha Marcus, a first-term Democrat. She was referring to the landmark 1973 decision of the U.S. Supreme Court legalizing abortion nationwide.

The measure now moves to the House for expected floor debate and a vote on the measure Tuesday. Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper has criticized the measure through a spokeswoman, raising expectations he would veto it...