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Article: Doctors Are Warned on Fetus Care; Guidelines Are Issued on Born- Alive Infants Protection Act (Corrected 5/2/2005)
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- April 23, 2005
- Author:
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The Bush administration issued guidelines yesterday advising
physicians and hospitals that under a 2002 law they are obligated to
care for fetuses "born alive" naturally or in the process of an
abortion, and medical providers could face penalties for withholding
treatment.
The law, signed by President Bush nearly three years ago,
conferred legal rights on fetuses "at any stage of development." It
specifies that a fetus that is breathing, has a beating heart, a
pulsating umbilical cord or muscle movement should be considered
alive and entitled to protection under federal emergency medical laws
and child abuse statutes.
Several physicians interviewed yesterday said that definition
appeared ...