Criminalizes the knowing and intentional failure of a physician, nurse, or other licensed medical person to provide reasonable medical care and treatment to an infant born alive as a felony.
Impact
The legislation, if passed, would categorize the failure to provide adequate medical care as a felony, with penalties including fines up to $5,000 and imprisonment for up to five years. In cases where negligence results in the death of the infant, the offending medical personnel could be charged with manslaughter. This represents a significant shift in accountability within the healthcare sector, positioning infant healthcare as a legal priority and potentially altering the protocols for care in uncertain medical situations.
Summary
S2419 seeks to amend Chapter 11-9 of the Rhode Island General Laws concerning the care of infants born alive. It specifically criminalizes the knowing and intentional failure of licensed medical personnel, including physicians and nurses, to provide reasonable medical care to an infant who has been born alive. This proposal aims to ensure that infants receive immediate and necessary medical attention, reflecting a heightened legal responsibility on the part of healthcare professionals in neonatal care situations.
Contention
Supporters of S2419 argue that the bill is necessary to protect vulnerable infants and to ensure that healthcare professionals prioritize their duty of care. Critics, however, may contend that the bill places undue pressure on medical professionals, particularly in high-risk situations where the prognosis for an infant could be poor. Concerns about the circumstances under which reasonable medical care is defined, and the potential for legal repercussions against healthcare workers, represent notable points of contention in the debates surrounding the bill.