Georgia Legislation Would Ban Abortions After 20 Weeks' Gestation

State Rep. Allen Peake (R) on Thursday introduced a bill (HB89) banning abortions after 20 weeks' gestation based on the notion that a fetus can feel pain, the Macon Telegraph reports. The bill contains an exception to allow abortion if a woman's life or the life of another fetus is in danger (Lee,Macon Telegraph, 1/28). The proposal mirrors a Nebraska law (LB 1103) and an Iowa proposal (HF 5) restricting abortion based on claims that fetuses feel pain beginning at 20 weeks' gestation (Women's Health Policy Report, 1/20).

Under the Georgia bill, any licensed medical professional who performs an abortion after 20 weeks would be guilty of unprofessional conduct and could be sanctioned by the state medical licensing board and face a lawsuit.

Georgia's current law states that abortion is not permitted after the second trimester. The bill has been assigned to a committee hearing, which has not yet been scheduled. Two other legislators -- Rep. Donna Sheldon (R) and Rep. James Mills (R) -- co-signed the bill.

Planned Parenthood of Georgia has not commented on the bill (Macon Telegraph, 1/28).

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