Health: abortion; circumstances in which abortion is not medically indicated to protect the life or physical or mental health of pregnant individual; describe. Creates new act.
Impact
This legislation is poised to significantly alter the landscape of reproductive health in Michigan. By establishing criteria that restrict when abortions can be performed, it encompasses crucial implications for individuals seeking to terminate pregnancies under the belief that selecting against certain genetic conditions is justified. The impact of such stipulations may lead to fewer medical procedures being sanctioned, emphasizing a legislative stance that many argue undermines individual autonomy and the ability to make healthcare decisions.
Summary
House Bill 4107 aims to define specific circumstances under which an abortion is not considered medically indicated to protect the life or physical or mental health of a pregnant individual. The bill specifically targets cases where a pregnant person is seeking an abortion due to the potential diagnosis of Down syndrome or a sex chromosome aneuploidy. As per the definitions provided in the bill, tests indicating these conditions or personal beliefs about the sex of the unborn child would not justify a medically indicated abortion under Michigan's constitution.
Contention
The bill has generated substantial debate regarding legislative interference in personal health choices and ethical concerns surrounding reproductive rights. Opponents argue that the bill could reinforce stigma against individuals with Down syndrome and other genetically identifiable conditions, fighting against the notion of selective abortion as a facet of personal choice and medical guidance. Contrarily, supporters of the bill assert that it aims to protect the unborn and prevent selective abortions based on disability, positioning HB 4107 within a broader ideological context of life-affirming legislation.