The West Virginia Senate on Tuesday passed a near-complete ban on abortions after eight weeks, giving that long to victims of rape or incest to prove they are victims of a crime in order to obtain an exemption, West Virginia News reports.
Pregnant patients who have a non-medically viable fetus, ectopic pregnancy or medical emergencies can also get an abortino in that period if it is in the “reasonable judgement of a licensed medical professional” that carrying the pregnancy would threaten the life of the patient.
Adults who are the victims of rape or incest can get an abortion up to eight weeks of gestation, according to the proposed law, which will likely be signed by Republican West Virginia governor, the inappropriately named former mining barron, Jim Justice.
Minors who are the victim of rape or incest must file a report with a law enforcement agency or a child welfare agency in order to get an abortion, allowing them to get the medical procedure up to 14 weeks of gestation. Law enforcement officers must provide the attending medical team with a copy of the criminal complaint in order for them to legally perform the abortion.
Republican state senate Majority Leader Tom Takubo said that any medical professional who violates the law faces a 3- to 10-year prison sentence.