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Lgal rcogto oUnBOrn & newLY BOrn


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Americans United for Life


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T

Lgal rcogto o

Ubo & nly Bo

sa Kl was igh hs pga wh sh was ba

ucscius by h jalus x-husbad, rb Kl, wh ld h

duig h aack ha h was gig sp i u f h. La, a h

hspial, Kl dlivd h daugh, wh was sillb ad suffd f a

facud skull. Pscus apd chag rb Kl f h baig

f his x-wif ad f h ud f h ub daugh. Hwv, his was

1969 ad Califia did y hav a ub vicis f vilc law (i.e.

fal hicid sau).

th Califia Sup Cu ulialy disissd h ud chag agais

rb Kl, ulig ha ly s wh had b b-aliv culd

be murdered, as the state criminal code then dened the offense. Intense

public pssu suld i a chag h sas hicid sau which w

cgizs a ub child as a pial vici. I was his add law ha

was usd, i 2004, succssfully pscu Sc Ps f h uds f

his wif, Laci Ps, ad hi ub s, C. tha cas galvaizd

aial ai h d f hs yps f pciv laws ad ld h

ac f h fdal Ub Vicis f Vilc Ac.

As the pro-life movement focuses signicant time and attention on protectingub child f abi ad las xisig csais is abiliy

pvid full lgal pci h ub i his cx, i is f asy

fg h a ay ppuiis pc ad pvid lgal cgi-

i ad pci f ub ad wly-b child (usid h cx

f abi). Ag hs ppuiis a acig sa ub vicis

f vilc pcis; piig assailas b pscud f faal

assauls h ub; pvidig a civil caus f aci i h dah f a u-

b child bcaus f h gligc f a hid pay (such as a duk div);

ad quiig ha ifas wh suviv a abi a giv pp dical

ca ad ai.

this Sci ulis hs ppuiis pc h ub ad wly b

ad pvids sucs f hi ac.


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Pm o Lgal rcogto o Ubo &

nly Bo

By Ds M. Buk

Vice President of Legal Affairs, Americans United for Life

T h uiagiabl gif ad suffig -dud by Laci ad C Pssfaily was, lagly du hi w cua-

gus advcacy, asfd i a blw f

jusic bhalf f ub vicis f cii-

al vilc. I Apil 2004, Psid Bush

sigd h Ub Vicis f Vilc Ac,

cly kw as Laci ad CsLaw, and lled an important gap in federal

law. Fdal pscus ay w chag a

assaila i h dah f a ub child wh

h dah ccus fdal ppy, such as a

iliay isallais, wh h dah ss

f h cissi f a fdal ci.

moe ipoanly, Laci and Conne lived in

a sae (Califonia) whee posecuos could

pess ude chages fo he deahs of boh hisyoung ohe and he unbon son. thiy-six

saes cay such povisions in hei ciinal

law, ofen efeed o as feal hoicide laws.

As fo he eaining 14 saes, Laci Peesons

ohe, Shaon rocha, has said i bes, ha

hey ae in effec elling gieving failies ha

innocen vicis [like Conne] ae no eally

vicisindeed ha hey neve exised a all.

Unbon vicis of violence laws ae jus one ex-aple of how saes ay esablish he legal pe-

sonhood of an unbon child, poviding he

wih legal ecogniion and poecion ouside

he conex of aboion. thee ae seveal oe

available unde boh ciinal and civil law.

Issues

Fetal Homicide

In recent years, several high-prole cases from

acss h ai hav highlighd h d f

laws pcig ub vicis f ciial

vilc. Culy, 36 sas pvid sdg f pci f ub vicis f h-

icid.

Ud c law,1 h killig f a ub

child was csidd a hicid ulss

the child was rst born alive and then died as

a sul f a ciial paal ac. this ul,

calld h b-aliv ul, is sill fllwd i

a ajiy f sas ha hav acd sp-

cial lgislai pc ub child fciial vilc. thus, if s shs a

pga wa, killig h child, h sh

is subjc ciial pscui f h

murder of the child unless the child is rst born

aliv ad h dis as a sul f h ijuis

which h child susaid bf bih. th

pups f h laws pcig ub vicis

f hicid, als kw as fal hicid

laws, is vu h c law b-

aliv ul ad ciializ cduc causig hdah f a ub child. ths laws a

dicd a abi which, ud cu c-

siuial dci, is pcd.

AUL has dafd h Cis Agais h U-


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b Child Ac, pvidig pci h

ub (f ccpi) f faal ad -

faal ciial assauls.

Nonfatal Assaults on the Unborn

o ccasi, h assailas aack ds

sul i h dah f h ub child, bu i-

sad ijus h child in utero (phaps als

sulig i a pau dlivy). I such i-

sacs, 21 sas pi h pscui f h

assaila f assaul.

One-Victim Laws

A iiy f juisdicis11 sashavacd -vici laws ha pi pscu-

is ad hacd palis i cass wh a

wa is assauld ad suffs a iscaiag,

sillbih, daag [h] pgacy. n-

ably, f hs sas, six d hav ah

law (such as a fal hicid law) ha cg-

izs h ub child as a scd vici f

h aack.2

Use of Force to Protect the Unborn

All 50 sas pi h us f fc (iclud-

ig, wh apppia, dadly fc) i spci-

ed circumstances: for self defense, in the de-

fs f hs, wh a ps asably

blivs fc is big usd iily will

b usd agais h s ls. I 2002,

a michiga cu xaid h applicabiliy f

these afrmative defenses (to criminal liabil-

iy) h us f fc pc h ub.

I 1999, Jacly Ku suffd a iscaiag af-

big physically aackd by h byfid,

Ai Pa. Jacly was ha 16 wks

pga wih quadupls wh Pa puchd

h sach ulipl is duig a agu-

. Jacly sabbd Pa i dfs f h

ub child. Pa subsquly did, ad

Jacly was chagd wih ad fud guily f

aslaugh. o appal, h michiga Cu

f Appals hld ha Jacly, as a pgawoman, was justied in using forcein this

cas, dadly fc pc h livs f h

ub child.3

this ulig bugh ai a aa f law

ha had lg b glcd. Applyig h

afrmative defense of defense of others to

pc h ub is a vicy f w ad

children, and opens a new chapter in the ght

pc h livs f h ub

I Apil 2009, oklaha acd AULs Pg-

nant Womans Protection Act that specically

pvids ha w ay us fc pc

hi ub child f ciial assauls.

Born-Alive Infant Protection

Jill Sak, a us a Chis Hspial i oak

Law, Illiis, hld a iy, 21-wk-ld baby by i h hads. H wighd abu half a

pud ad was aud ichs lg. H

was wak v vy uch, xpd-

ig ay gy h had yig bah, Jill

calld. th baby had suvivd a abi

and was going to be left alone in a lthy utility

bcaus his pas did wa hld

hi as h did, ad h adig us was

busy bh wih hi. Jill ivd.

I culd sad h hugh f his suffigchild dyig al i h sild uiliy , s

I cadld ad ckd hi f h 45 ius

that he lived, she testied before the House

f rpsaivs. twad h d, h was

s qui, I culd ll if h was aliv ulss I


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hld hi up h ligh s if I culd s his

ha baig hugh his chs wall.4

t h h, Jill discvd ha babis wh

w b aliv as a sul f faild abis

w uily lf al di h cldal cup i h hspials uiliy .5

Distraught and lled with disbelief, Jill spoke

u agais h pacic ad was subsquly

red.

Jill wkd hav h hspial pscud

f vilaig Illiis Abi Law f 1975,

which quid physicias pvid dical

ca f b-aliv ifas. Hwv, h-

Illiis Ay Gal Ji rya fud hah was basis f lgal aci.6 Sii-

larly, the Ofce for Civil Rights at the U.S.

Dpa f Halh ad Hua Svics

w a l Jill saig ha fdal civil

ighs laws d cv abis h ighs

f wbs.7

Udd, Jill k h sy all h way

h U.S. Hus f rpsaivs i 2001,

where she testied in support of the FederalB-Aliv Ifas Pci Ac (BAIPA).

The Federal Born-Alive Infants Protection Act

(BAIPA) of 2002

The federal BAIPA claries that, for the pur-

pss f ay Ac f Cgss, ay ulig,

gulai, ipai f h vaius

adiisaiv buaus ad agcis f h

Uid Sas, h lgal s ps, hu-

a big, child ad idividual icludifas wh a b aliv a ay sag f d-

vlp, icludig hs b as a sul f a

failed abortion. Through this denition, the Act

quis ha ifas wh a b aliv as a -

sul f a faild abi us b giv idi-

a ad cpl dical ca ad ai.

o mach 12, 2002, h fdal BAIPA passd

h Hus f rpsaivs by a sudig

vic v. La, Ju 19, 2002, i was ap-

pvd by a 98-0 v i h U.S. Sa. AllDcas w ps f ha v, ad all

f hicludig Sas Hillay Cli,

td Kdy, Babaa Bx ad Jh K-

yvd i fav f h bill. o h Sa

oor, Sen. Boxer voiced her strong support for

h bill, xclaiig, Wh wuld b vul-

abl ha a wb baby? Sh ciud,

saig ha all f u ppl dsv pc-

i, f h vy iis ifa h s

ldly ag us.8

State Born-Alive Infant Protection Acts

Sic is ac, h fdal BAIPA has

b usd as a dl f siila sa lgisla-

i. Culy, h ajiy f h sas hav

s f f a BAIPA. A las 24 sas hav

laws creating a specic afrmative duty of

physicias pvid dical ca ad a-

b-aliv ifas a ay sag f d-

vlp, ad a las 3 sas qui suchca ad a af viabiliy. o sa

pcs b-aliv ifas a ay sag f d-

vlp f dliba acs udak

by a physicia ha sul i h dah f h

infant, but does not create a specic afrmative

duy pvid ca ad a.

Lik hi fdal cupa, sa BAIPAs

specically declare they do not implicate or

ifig h igh abi. F xapl,h Illiis BAIPA cais w ualiy

clauss f which is idical ha i

h fdal BAIPA, ad a scd which -

ifcs h pi haRoe v. Wade ad h igh

abi a iplicad ald by h


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BAIPA. This second clause specically states:

nhig i his Sci shall b csud

affc xisig fdal Sa law gadig

abis.9

Sa BAIPAs a cssay f a sval a-ss. Fis, as a fdal law, h fdal BAIPA

ly applis i liid cicusacs. F x-

apl, h fdal BAIPA wuld ly xd

hs hspials ad plys pad by h

fdal gv, which civ fdal

fudig; i wuld phibi piva sa-

pad cliics ad hspials f dyig

ca dical ai b-aliv ifas.

Scd, h sas ca ac sa vsis f

h BAIPA ha a cphsiv ad pciv ha h fdal vsi. Lasly,

sa vsis f fdal laws fuci as i-

fc chaiss f hi fdal cu-

pa. th fdal gv has liid

sucs f law fc ad pscui

s sa BAIPAs will hlp su h i ad

quis f BAIPAs a fcd, ad vi-

las a pscud.

t assis sas i acig a BAIPA, AULhas dafd h B-Aliv Ifa Pci

Ac.

Prevention and Treatment of Maternal Drug

and Alcohol Abuse

I c yas, a ub f sas hav passd

laws pvidig pci f w ad hi

child f h avags f dug ad alchl

abus. th i f s f hs laws is ciializ h hs us f dugs ad/

alchl, bu pvid, cuag, ad, i

s cass, ada pig ad a.

nably, 20 sas fud spcial dug ad alc-

hl a pgas f pga w

ad wbs.

Civil Causes of Action for the Wrongful Death

of an Unborn Child

By cu dcisi sau, 38 sas allwa wgful dah (civil) caus f aci f

h dah f a ub child.10 of hs, 29

sas allw a wgful dah sui if h child

is viabl; 9 sas allw suis f a p-viabl

ub child; ad 12 sas sill qui a liv

bih, baig a caus f aci f h dah f

h ub child ulss h child is b aliv

ad dis haf.

t assis sas i pvidig f his civil causf aci, AUL has dafd h Ub Wg-

ful Dah Ac.

Refusal to Recognize Wrongful Life or Wrong-

ful Birth Lawsuits

A ub f sas als fus cgiz

wgful lif wgful bih causs f ac-

i. Wgful lif is a acibugh by

bhalf f h child[wh] allgs, b-caus f h dfdas gligc, his pas

ih dcidd cciv hi iga f h

isk f a ipai bih dfc, w

dpivd f ifai duig gsai ha

wuld hav ppd h ia h

pgacy.11 Siply pu, i a wgful lif

aci, a child is aguig ha (1) h pgacy

shuld hav b iad; (2) ha bu f

h dfdas gligc h plaiiff wuld

hav b b; ad (3) h plaiiffs lifwuld hav b b livd.

mawhil, wgful bih is a aci

bugh by h pa f a child b wih a

ipai bih dfc. th basic agu-


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ad by h pa is ha h/sh wuld

hav abd h child if h/sh had kw ha

h child wuld b disabld.12 Sic h bih

dfc is aually ccuig, []h pa al-

lgs ha h gligc f hs chagd wih

paal sig gic cuslig dpivdh f h igh ak a ily dcisi

gadig whh ia a pgacy

bcaus f h liklihd hi child wuld b

b physically ally ipaid.13

Wgful lif ad wgful bih clais ais

signicant issues because the core argument

aacks h saciy f lif f vy hua

pshs clais ass ha s livs a

b ff livd, ha h disabld a bff dad.14 t child wih disabiliis

dfciv ad advca f hi liiai

pi bih is dagusly -classify h

disabld as lss hua, ga hs ciizs

fw ighs, ad aibu a lw valu

hi livs ad cibuis huaiy. 15

Culy, 29 sas hav ih fusd c-

giz liid a wgful lif aci, whil

3 sas xpssly pi his cvsialcaus f aci.

Ufualy, wgful bih causs f aci

have found signicantly greater acceptance by

sa cus, lgislaus, ad h public. thi-

y-w sas pi wgful bih causs f

aci, whil ly lv sas xpssly p-

hibi such causs f aci.

MYTHS & FACTS

Myth: Laws xdig lgal cgii ad

pci ub child a ucsiu-

ial bcaus hy giv lgal saus a u-

b child ad/ cadic h sablishd

s fRoe v. Wade.

Fact: Dspi uus challgs, law

pcig ub child usid h cx

f abi hav b suck dw as ucsi-

uial. mv, hs laws d dicly

iplica h igh chs a abi. Fxapl, ub vicis f vilc laws, als

known as fetal homicide laws, specically ex-

clud h pfac f a lgal abi f

pial ciial liabiliy. thy als d

apply cduc which h h f h

ub child ( h lgal guadia) css,

such as dical a a abi.

Myth: Cis ha sul i h dah f

ijuy a ub child a ly ffssagais h pga wa, wih dah

ha h ub child big a icidal

accidal csquc.

Fact: th faild ff by Sa Dia

Fisi (D-CA) gu Laci ad Cs

Law (by akig assaul a pga wa

a hacd ffs if h ub child als

dis) sugh ppua his viw. nh-

ig, i fac, culd b fuh f h uh. I

ay cass ivlvig vilc agais pg-a w, h assaila aacks a pga

wa wih h i f killig h ub

child by causig a iscaiag sillbih. I

s, h wa fusd hav a abi

ad h childs fah, ah ha spcig

h chic, acs villy d h pg-

acy. I hs siuais, w hav b

savagely beaten, pushed down ights of stairs,

ad suffd blws, sab wuds, ad gushs

agd h abd. Sis, his vi-lc aks a lss savag, bu lss dadly

u. F xapl, i 2002 a ohi physicia

whs pga gilfid had fusd hav

a abi spikd h dik wih a pscip-

i dug kw caus iscaiag.


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Myth: nw ha w hav h fdal Ub

Vicis f Vilc Ac, h is d

pass siila sa pcis.

Fact: mud ad assauls, xcp i liid

cicusacs, a ypically sa cis. th

vas ajiy f h ciial pscuis fhicid ad assaul ak plac i sa cus,

i fdal cus, s i is ciical ha ach

sa pc h ub f ciial vi-

lc. Cvsly, Laci ad Cs Law

ly applis fdal cis ad fdal juis-

dicis, such as iliay isallais.

thus, h biggs ipac f Laci ad Cs

Law ay b i is visis h Uif

Cd f miliay Jusic (UCmJ). miliay pscus ca w pusu chags agais

iliay psl said aywh i h

wld if hi acis caus h dah f a u-

born child; previously, they were limited to l-

ig such chags ly i hs sas wih laws

pcig ub vicis f vilc. A cas

such as ha f Aia Ggy L. rbs,

wh i 1996 savagly ba his pga wif,

upuig h uus ad killig hi ub

daugh, suld i aslaugh chagsly bcaus ohi, wh h was said,

had a fal hicid law is bks. Had

rbs b said i Clad nh

Carolinastates with a signicant military

psc, bu laws pcig a ub

child f vilch culd hav b

chagd wih his daughs dah ad wuld

hav facd pscui ly f h assaul

his wif.

Myth: th a suppsd adul abi

suvivs.

Fact: th a ay adul abi suvivs.

F xapl, Giaa Jss f Califia, b

Apil 6, 1977, is a sali abi suviv. Gi-

aas bilgical h had a hid-is

sali abi a h ag f 17. Af big

bud aliv f 18 hus i h wb f

h sali slui, Giaa was b aliv i

a Ls Agls Cuy abi cliic. th

pcdu lf h wih cbal palsy, whichld dcs ass ha sh wuld v b

abl hld up h had, si up, cawl, walk.

Hwv, Giaa bga walk wih h assis-

ac f bacs ad a walk by h ag f h

ad w us aahs acss h wld.16

Myth: P-abi advcas sgly pps

BAIPAs.

Fact: n all p-abi advcas pps

BAIPAs. F xapl, h naial Abirighs Aci Lagu (nArAL) publicly sup-

pd h fdal BAIPA, saig i a July 20,

2000 pss las ha nArAL ds p-

ps passag f h B Aliv Ifas Pc-

i Ac bcaus h Ac is agd a

Roe v. Wade a was igh chs.17

Myth: th quis f BAIPAs ay pu

h hs lif a isk i s cicusac-

s.Fact: Physicias a liabl f dyig a

b-aliv ifa dical ca ad a if,

i h physicias asabl judg, such

dial was cssay pc h lif f h

h.

Endnotes1 As disiguishd f laws cad by h acs f lgis-

laus, h c law cpiss h bdy f hs picipls

ad uls f aci, laig h gv ad scuiy f p-ss ad ppy, ha div hi auhiy slly f usags

ad cuss f iial aiquiy, f h judgs ad

decrees of courts recognizing, afrming, and enforcing such us-

ags ad cuss. th s c suc f Aica c-

law is eglish c law.2 ths sas a Akasas, Clad, Idiaa, Iwa, Kasas,

mai, michiga, mississippi, nw Hapshi, nw mxic,


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ad Wyig. Fiv sas, Akasas, Idiaa, Kasas, michi-

ga, ad mississippi, hav s-calld -vici laws h

books, but also dene certain offenses against the unborn child

as hicid.3 See State v. Kurr, 654 n.W.2d 651, 657 (mich. C. App.

2002).4 tsiy f Jill Sak duig h haig bf h Subc-

i h Csiui h Ci h Judiciay,U.S. Hus f rpsaivs, 107h Cgss, H.r. 2175

(B Aliv Ifa Pci Ac), July 12, 2001, Sial n. 32,

a 19.5Id. o isac ivlvd h faild abi f a baby by

who was supposed to have spina bida. What appeared on the

ulasud b a ass h babys back was acually a i-

cplly fd wi. th halhy baby was b aliv wih

a iac spi af h faild abi pcdu, ad was lf

di h cld cup f h uiliy .6Id. a 25, 427 Id. a 25, 41.8 Cgssial rcd, S7062-S7064, Ju 28, 2001. I addi-

i, S. Kdy sad, mada Psid, I a gig ug

h Sa accp h ad w. I hik w had agd discussi abu i. I hp ha w will v ahad ad

accp i.9 5 ILCS 70 1.36 (d).10See Da m. maks, Person v. Potential: Judicial Struggles

to Decide Claims Arising from the Death of an Embryo or Fe-

tus and Michigans Struggle to Settle the Question, 37 Ak L.

rv. 41 (2004). See also Ab Dia, Wrongful Death and the

Legal Status of the Previable Embryo, 19 rg U. L. rv. 251

(2006/2007). (nbaska ad txas hav chagd hi law by

sau sic 2004).11 See e.g., Willis v. Wu, 607 S.e.2d 63, 66 (S.C. Dis. C. 1980).12Id.13Id.14Id.15 Dapaa m. Shh,Better Off Unborn? An Analysis of Wrong-

ful Birth and Wrongful Life Claims Under the Americans with

Disabilities Act, 73 t. L. rv. 641, .23 (2006) (aguig ha

wgful bih ad wgful lif clais vila h Aicas

wih Disabiliis Ac).16 Giaa Jsss Bigaphy, availabl a hp://www.giaajs-

s.c/ePK/bi.hl (las visid Augus 19, 2009), ad Gi-

anna Jessens Story, availabl a hp://balivuh.g/gia-

asy.aspx (las visid Augus 19, 2009).17 Timeline on the Federal Born-Alive Infants Protection Act,

naial righ Lif Ci, available athp://www.lc.

g/obaaBAIPA/tiliFdalBAIPA.hl (las visid

Augus 19, 2009).


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Unborn Victims of Violence Protections (Fetal homicide and assault statutes)

Ub vicis f vilc laws d dicly ipac iplica h was igh

chs abi. ths laws dal wih ciial vilc agais a wa ad h

unborn child, not legal abortion. Indeed, these laws uniformly and specically exclude

lgal abi f pial ciial liabiliy.

ths laws cgiz ha ciial vilc agais pga w ihly ivlvs

and endangers two victimsthe woman and her unborn child. Importantly, in a signi-

ca ub f assauls agais pga w, h assailas u ag is h ub

child.

Whil 36 sas cgiz h ub child as a spaa vici f ciial vilc

agais a pga wa, a iiy f sas (six sas) sauily cgiz ly

vici f such assauls. I hs sas, a assaul a pga wa ha suls

i a iscaiag sillbih is ypically csidd a hacd ffs f scig

pupss.

Dspi pad challgs, sa fdal law ciializig vilc agais a

ub child has b dclad ucsiuial by ay cu.

typically, ub vicis f vilc laws d apply ay ac cid by h

h f a ub child; ay dical pcdu (icludig abi) pfd by

a physicia ( h licsd dical pfssial) a h qus f h pga wa

( h lgal guadia); h lawful dispsai adiisai f lawfully p-

scibd dicai.

th auhiy f h sas phibi slf-abi h cduc by h pga

wa hslf which ay b ijuius h lif halh f h ub child is ucla.

I shuld b d ha pi Roe, w w pscud f slf-abi. I h

absc f spcial lgislai, cus gally hav fusd hld a pga waliabl ud child glc h ciial saus f paal ijuis, gadlss f

how inicted. Thus, to avoid any possible constitutional problems, laws protecting un-

b vicis f vilc a idd ach cssual cduc ly ad ypically

xclud cduc f h pga wa hslf.

Lgal rcogto o Ubo & nly Bo

Talkg Pots


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Pregnant Womans Protection Act (Use of Force to Protect the Unborn)

I People v. Kurr, the Michigan Court of Appeals recognized that women are justied

i usig (dadly) fc wh cssay pc h livs f hi ub child f

ciial vilc.1 mv, i Apil 2009, h oklaha lgislau uaiusly

passd AULs Pga Was Pci Ac, sauily ackwldgig a pgawas igh us fc, icludig dadly fc, pc h ub child.

th saus f all 50 sas allw h us f fc (ad dadly fc) i cai cicu-

sacs f slf-dfs, i dfs f hs, ad i dfs f ppy. IKurr, h

cu applid h dfs f hs hy siuais wh a wa blivs ha

h lif f h ub child is a isk.

Piig a wa us fc pc h ub child is h ly isac

wh lgal saus has b gad h ub. F xapl, h fdal Ub

Vicis f Vilc Ac as wll as h laws f 36 sas cgiz a ub child as aspaa vici f ciial vilc ad a h killig f a ub child as a f f

hicid.

michiga cus hav hld ha a was us f (dadly) fc pc h ub

child is csiuial, ds affc h igh abi, ad ds ciializ

abi. th us f (dadly) fc pc h ub is a aw dfs availabl

slly h pga wa. ev h, h dfs is availabl ly agais h ulaw-

ful us f (dadly) fc. thus, allwig such a dfs i way iplicas a was

igh chs lgal abi ad i way affcs h pfac f lgal abis.

th us f (dadly) fc pc h ub ds apply h dfs f bys

ha xis usid f a was bdy (i.e., fz bys). thus, cas ad sauy law

his issu will if wih ay sach pduciv davs ha ivlv

fz bys.

Born-Alive Infant Protection (BAIPA)

Fdal ad sa BAIPAs i way iplica, al, ifig up h igh ab-

i, ad i way affc h hldigs f Roe v. Wade is pgy. All BAIPAs

cai ualiy clauss claifyig his. F xapl, Sci C f h fdal BAIPAstates: Nothing in this [S]ection shall be construed to afrm, deny, expand, or contract

ay lgal saus lgal igh applicabl ay b f h spcis homo sapiens a

any point prior to being born alive as dened by this Section.

ev h naial Abi righs Aci Lagu-P Chic Aica (nArAL) has


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ackwldgd ha BAIPAs d vila h igh chs abi. F xapl,

nArAL sad i a July 20, 2000 pss las ha i did pps passag f h

[fdal] B Aliv Ifas Pci Ac bcaus h Ac is agd a Roe v.

Wade a was igh chs.2

oc a livig hua big is usid f h h, i is lg a fus bu a p-s, a Aica ciiz wih civil ighs qual pci ud h law.

th dial f basic dical ca b-aliv ifas which causs hi dahgad-

lss f whh hy w b as a sul f aual iducd lab, csaa sci,

iducd abiis ifaicid.

th igh abi is h igh f a pga wa dcid whh i-

a a pgacy.3 Hwv, wh h child is lg i h wb (as a sul f h

bih pcss a apd abi), h wa is lg pga ad h igh

chs a abi ds asla a igh a dad child. th igh abids xd s fa as jusify h dial f civil ighs ad h lgal pci

b, livig hua pss.

BAIPAs are unique from other laws because they create a specic afrmative duty for

physicias pvid dical ca ad a b-aliv ifas.

BAIPAs d dag h livs f w. BAIPAs cai xcpis f h lif

h halh f h h. Physicias a liabl f dyig a b-aliv ifa dical

ca ad a if, i h physicias asabl judg, such dial was cssay

pc h lif f h h.

th ajiy f h sas hav s f f a BAIPA. A las 24 sas hav laws c-

ating a specic afrmative duty of physicians to provide medical care and treatment to

b-aliv ifas a ay sag f dvlp,4 ad a las 3 sas qui such ca ad

a af h child is viabl.5

Endnotes1 654 n.W.2d 651, 657 (mich. C. App. 2002).2 Timeline on the Federal Born-Alive Infants Protection Act, naial righ Lif Ci, available athp://www.lc.g/

obaaBAIPA/tiliFdalBAIPA.hl (las visid Augus 19, 2009).3Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973).4 Alabaa, Aiza, Califia, Dlawa, Ggia, Illiis, Idiaa, Kasas, Luisiaa, mai, michiga, mississippi, missui,

maa, nbaska, nw Yk, oklaha, Psylvaia, rhd Islad, Suh Daka, tss, txas, Washig, ad Wisc-

si.5 Flida, Iwa, Idiaa, maa, nh Daka, ad nvada.


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305

ftal Homcd

Thirty-six states treat the killing of an unborn child as a form of homicide:

Twenty-six states dene the killing of an unborn child at any stage of gestation as a

form of homicide: AL, AK, AZ, GA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MI, MN, MS, MO, NE,

ND, OH, OK, PA, SC, SD, TX, UT, VA, WV, and WI.

One state denes the killing of an unborn child after the embryonic stage

(seven to eight weeks) as a form of homicide: CA.

One state denes the killing of an unborn child after 12 weeks of gestation as a

form of homicide: AR.

Four states dene the killing of an unborn child after quickening

(discernible movement within the womb) as a form of homicide: FL, NV, RI, and WA.

Three states dene the killing of an unborn child after viability as a form of homicide:

MD, MA, and TN.

One state denes the killing of an unborn child after 24 weeks gestation as a form

of gestation: NY.


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noatal Assaults o th Ubo

Twenty-one states dene nonfatal assaults on the unborn as criminal offenses:

AL, AK, AZ, AR, GA, ID, IL, LA, MI, MN, MS, NE, ND, OH, OK, PA, SC, SD, TX,

WV, and WI.


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O-vctm Las

Eleven states dene criminal assaults on a pregnant woman that result in miscarriage,

stillbirth, or damage to a pregnancy as an enhanced offense for sentencing purposes:

CO, IN, IA, KS, ME, MI, MS, NH, NM, NC, and WY.


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Us o foc to Potct th Ubo

Two states specically permit the application of the afrmative defense of defense

of others to cases where a woman uses force (including deadly force) to protect her

unborn child: MI and OK.


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Defending Life 2010

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Bo-Al iats Potcto Act (BAiPA)

Twenty-four states have laws creating a specic afrmative duty for physicians to

provide medical care and treatment to born-alive infants at any stage of development:

AL, AZ, CA, DE, GA, IL, IN, KS, LA, ME, MI, MS, MO, MT, NE, NY, OK, PA, RI,

SD, TN, TX, WA, and WI.

Three states have laws creating a specic afrmative duty for physicians to provide

medical care and treatment to born-alive infants only after viability: IA, MN, and ND.

One state protects born-alive infants at any stage of development from deliberate acts

undertaken by a physician that result in the death of the infant: VA.


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310


Prenatal Use of Drugs and Alcohol by the Mother

Two states dene substance abuse during pregnancy as child abuse, require

healthcare professionals to report suspected prenatal drug use, and require testing of

newborns when there is a suspicion of prenatal drug use: IA and MN.

Four states dene substance abuse during pregnancy as child abuse and require

healthcare professionals to report suspected prenatal drug use: IL, LA, RI, and VA.

One state requires healthcare professionals to report suspected prenatal drug use, and

requires testing of newborns when there is a suspicion of prenatal drug use: ND.

Ten states also dene substance abuse during pregnancy as child abuse and/or

neglect under civil child-welfare statutes: AR, CO, FL, IN, MD, NV, SC, SD, TX,

and WI.

Seven states only require healthcare professionals to report suspected prenatal drug use:

AK, AZ, MA, MI, MT, OK, and UT.

One state only requires healthcare professionals to test newborns for prenatal drug

exposure when there is suspicion of prenatal drug abuse: KY.


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Dug Tatmt Pogams o Pgat wom

Twenty states fund drug treatment programs for pregnant women and newborns:

AR, CA, CO, CT, FL, IL, KY, LA, MD, MN, MO, NE, NY, NC, OH, OR, PA,

UT (requiring priority admission to exist for pregnant women), VA, and WA.


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wogul Dath (Cl Acto)

Twenty-nine states permit a wrongful death action if the unborn child was viable at the

time of his/her death: AL, AZ, AR, CO, CT, DE, HI, ID, KS, KY, MD, MA, MN, MS,

MT, NV, NH, NM, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, VT, WA, and WI.

Nine states allow suits for a pre-viable unborn child: GA (limited to quickening), IL,

LA, MI, MO, NE, SD, TX, and WV.

Twelve states still require live birth (and bar a cause of action for the death of the

unborn child unless the child is born alive and dies thereafter): AK, CA, FL, IN, IA,

ME, NJ, NY, TN, UT, VA, and WY.


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Defending Life 2010

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wogul L Causs o Acto

Twenty states have rejected wrongful life actions through judicial opinion:

AL, AZ, CO, DE, FL, GA, IL, KS, KY, MD, MA, NV, NH, NY, NC, OH, SC,TX, WV, and WI.

Nine states have passed statutes barring or limiting wrongful life actions:

ID, IN, MI, MN, MO, ND, PA, SD, and UT.

Three states expressly permit wrongful life causes of action: CA, NJ, and WA.


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wogul Bth Causs o Acto

Eleven states have expressly prohibited wrongful birth causes of action:

GA, ID, KY, ME, MI, MN, MO, NV, PA, SD, and TN.

Thirty-two states permit wrongful birth causes of action:

AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, MD, MA, NH, NJ, NM,

NY, NC, OH, OK, RI, SC, TX, UT, VA, WA, WV, WI, and WY.


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2009 Stat Lgslat Sssos r:Legal recognition & protection of unborn & newly born

By Ds M. Buk

Vice President of Legal Affairs, Americans United for Life

S a laws pcig ub vicis fviolence received signicant public anddia ai v h pas fw yas. F

xapl, i Jauay 2008, mai Lac C-

pal maia Laubach ad h ub child

w udd a Cap Lju, nh

Calia. Laubach was aig h du da

a h i f h ud. Fllw mai Csa

Aad Laua has b chagd i h Lau-bachs ud, bu will fac chags f

killig Laubachs child sic nh Calia

is f ly 14 sas ha ds hav a

law pcig ub vicis f vilc (i.e.,

fal hicid laws).

Cvsly, i Apil 2008, maylad pscu-

tors secured the states rst conviction under

is w fal hicid law wh 25-ya-ld

David mill was cvicd f w cus frst-degree murder for killing Elizabeth Wal-

s ad hi ub daugh. A wiss

the murders testied that Miller, who was mar-

id ah wa, clibd i h back

sa f h ca sh was siig i wih Wals

ad ld h pga wa sh was g-

ig ui [his] lif, h pulld u a gu ad

sh Wals i h had. Fids f h ppula

Bali waiss said sh had husiasical-

ly ad h chic kp ad ais h daugh- ad was agly ppaig f h bih.

Fially, laws pcig ifas wh suviv

apd abis, s cly fd

as b-aliv ifa pci laws, b-

ca a cpic f h 2008 Psidial

capaig.

I 2009, 28 sas csidd ha 80

asus pvidig lgal pci ad c-

gii f h ub ad wly b, ughly

cpaabl aciviy lvls f 2008.

Protection of Unborn Victims of Violence

A las 15 sasicludig Hawaii, Illiis,

Idiaa, maa, nbaska, nw Yk, o-

g, rhd Islad, tss, Ws Vigiia,

ad Wyigiducd asus pc

ub vicis f vilc.

Idiaa acd a asu ciializig h

killig f a ub child a ay sag f gsa-

i ad icasig h palis f pfiga illgal abi. I als acd a asu

pvidig a pi f hacd scig

f ay ps wh kills a ub child whil

ciig ud fly-ud.

One-Victim/Enhanced Penalty Laws

A las six sasicludig Hawaii, nh

Calia, oklaha, rhd Islad, Ws Vi-

giia, ad Wyigcsidd asusciializig assauls pga w ad

pvidig f hacd palis f such ac-

is. Hwv, hs asus d cg-

iz h ub child as a scd vici.


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Protection for Pregnant Women

oklaha acd AULs Pga Was

Protection Act, which provides an afrmative

dfs w wh us fc pc

hi ub child f a ciial assaul.

Substance Abuse by Pregnant Women

Continuing a signicant legislative trend over

h pas fw yas, a las 19 sasiclud-

ig Alabaa, Akasas, Califia, Hawaii, Il-

liis, Kucky, mai, misa, missui,

nw mxic, rhd Islad, tss, ad

txasiducd asus dsigd cub

subsac abus by pga w ad/pvid f dd a.

Arkansas enacted a measure dening neglect

iclud h psc f a illgal subsac

i a wbs bld ad piig h us f

such s sul as vidc f glc i subs-

qu pcdigs.

txas acd a asu caig a ask fc

chagd, i pa, wih advisig pialciial liabiliy f w wh xps hi

ub child clld subsacs.

Born-Alive Infant Protection

A sall ub f sas, icludig Suh Ca-

lia, csidd asus pc ifas

b aliv fllwig a bchd abi ad

su hy civ apppia dical ca.

Stillborn/Fetal Death Certifcates

A las i sasicludig Alaska, Illiis,

mai, nw mxic, nw Yk, Psylva-

ia, tss, ad Ws Vigiiaiducd

measures to provide for a death certicate

wh a ifa is sillb.

Alaska acd a asu ha pis, up a

parents request, the issuance of a death certi-

ca ad quis dical pvids ifpas f his pi.

Idiaa acd a asu quiig h sa

Dpa f Halh dvlp a lcic

dah gisai sys ha will iclud i-

fai sillbihs.

mai acd a asu piig h issu-

ance of a death certicate upon a parents re-

qus, whil Psylvaia acd a asupvidig f fal dah gisais.

Infant Abandonment

A las 11 sasicludig Alaska, Aiza,

Califia, Illiis, nw Yk, nh Daka,

tss, ad Washigiducd lg-

islai allwig f h lgal abad f

ifas ud cicusacs ha su hi

halh ad safy.

tss acd a asu iclud plic

and re stations and emergency medical ser-

vics faciliis as pissibl lcais l-

gally liquish a ifa.

Washig acd a asu iclud d-

ical cliics (duig hi sablishd hus f

pais) as pissibl lcais lgally

liquish a ifa.

Wrongful-Death (Civil) Causes of Action

A las h sasAlabaa, Illiis, ad

nw Ykcsidd asus pvid f


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a wgful-dah (civil) caus f aci i h

dah f a ub child. th asus w

qually dividd bw pvidig pci

f ccpi ad ly af viabiliy.

Wrongful Birth and Wrongful Life Causes ofAction

nw Jsy csidd a asu phibi

bh wgful bih ad wgful lif causs

f aci.


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