This bill would ban a specific abortion procedure called dismemberment abortion, which involves using instruments like forceps or scissors to remove fetal parts from the uterus. Physicians who perform this procedure would face criminal penalties of up to two years in prison and fines, though an exception is included for procedures necessary to save the mother's life. The bill also creates civil remedies allowing women, parents of minors, or others to sue those who perform the procedure, with potential awards for damages including three times the cost of the abortion plus punitive damages and attorney's fees. Women who undergo the procedure would not face criminal prosecution themselves. The legislation does not restrict other abortion methods and explicitly preserves the right to perform abortions for any reason, including in cases of rape or incest, as long as a different method is used.
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