Louisiana Becomes First State to Outlaw Late Term Abortions

AP Staff/TN : Jul 16, 2007
Associated Press

The new law allows "partial birth" abortions in only when failure to perform it would endanger the mother's life; in all other cases, the procedure would be a crime.

(Baton Rouge, Louisiana)—The AP reports that Louisiana became the first state to outlaw a late-term abortion procedure Friday, when Gov. Kathleen Blanco approved legislation allowing doctors to be prosecuted for performing the surgery.

According to the report, the new law allows "partial birth" abortions in only when failure to perform it would endanger the mother's life; in all other cases, the procedure would be a crime.

Planned Parenthood officials argued against the Louisiana ban in legislative committee hearings, but reportedly "received a chilly response from lawmakers."