fetal pain bill set for special order in SC Senate

Fetal Pain Bill Set for Special Order

 On March 18, Savannah testified before the Medical Affair Subcommittee and along with her mother, Wendy Duke, advocated for the lives of all unborn children especially those with disabilities. For detailed information see Mrs. Duke’s blog here.

“I’m sad that the committee passed an amendment that would let someone kill a baby because it is sick or has medical problems” Savannah Duke said after the Medical Affairs Committee action Thursday.

 “That seems really cruel, especially when there’s a chance it can feel the pain of an abortion. But I hope the whole Senate will vote to make abortions after 20 weeks illegal.” Mrs. Duke expressed frustration with the committee. “The amendments allow us to kill a child with medical problems, the most vulnerable of our people.”

COLUMBIA, S.C. (Thursday, April 23, 2015) — The South Carolina Senate on a voice vote set the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (H3114) for special order meaning it most likely will be debated and passed by the Senate before adjournment.

 This clears a major hurdle and overrides what is known as a “minority report” on the bill. A minority report is essentially a procedure to keep the Senate from getting to the bill. Special Order, however, is a counter procedure that overrides the block.

 On April 16, 2015, the Senate Medical Affairs Committee advanced a flawed fetal pain bill to the full Senate by a vote of 9-6. South Carolina Citizens for Life supported advancing the bill but opposed the weakening amendment to exclude children diagnosed with disabilities “incompatible with life outside the womb” or children who were conceived in rape or incest.

 The bill, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (H3114) acknowledges the scientific finding that unborn children can feel pain by at least the 20th week of life after fertilization and and it in theory protects those children from the savage abortion procedures.

 The wide open rape exception, however, allows women carrying perfectly healthy babies to obtain an abortion at 20 weeks or later simply by claiming she was raped whether she was nor not. The fetal anomaly exclusion discriminates against unborn children with disabilities and ultimately devalues the lives of any disabled person.

 The “fetal anomaly” exclusion was particularly disappointing to Savannah Duke, 14, of Spartanburg who was diagnosed with serious medical problems before birth and was born with one leg. She now is an honor student and member of the Dorman High varsity swim team. See a video of this remarkable teen here.