OKC Standard

Senator James Lankford (R-OK) has introduced the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, aimed at ensuring medical care for newborns who survive abortion procedures. The bill mandates that healthcare practitioners provide necessary care to these infants.

Lankford emphasized, "No child should be denied medical care simply because they are 'unwanted.' Today, if an abortion procedure fails and a child is born alive, doctors can just ignore the crying baby on the table and watch them slowly die of neglect. That’s not an abortion, that’s infanticide."

The existing Born-Alive Infants Protection Act of 2002 recognizes any newborn showing signs of life as a legal person. However, it lacks enforcement measures. The new legislation seeks to establish clear expectations for care, hospital transfer requirements, mandatory reporting, private rights of action for mothers, and penalties for non-compliance by healthcare professionals.

Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) supported the bill saying, "Babies who are born alive after an attempted abortion deserve the same protection and medical care that would be afforded to any other newborn." He described it as a "commonsense bill" deserving bipartisan support.

Other supporters include Senators Jim Banks (R-IN), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Jim Risch (R-ID), and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY). Hyde-Smith stated, "Every baby born alive... deserves the appropriate medical care necessary for a fighting chance to live." Risch added that allowing a child to suffer without intervention "is not who we are as Americans."

Numerous organizations have endorsed the legislation including March for Life Action and Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America. Tim Scott (R-SC) remarked on creating a "culture of life," while Ted Budd (R-NC) highlighted the need for medical care as a human right.

Opponents argue that such legislation is unnecessary due to existing laws against infanticide. They also express concerns about potential impacts on women's reproductive rights.

As debates continue in Congress over this sensitive issue, proponents remain hopeful about passing the bill under current political conditions.