TLRC position
Oppose
2023 · Abortion
Makes exceptions for a physician’s good faith judgment in the case of abortion.
HB 0778 / SB 0983
Bill description
Abortion - As introduced, limits the offense of criminal abortion to only apply to elective abortions; defines elective abortion as any abortion that is not medically necessary to prevent the death of the pregnant woman or to prevent serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman.
Abortion - As introduced, limits the offense of criminal abortion to only apply to elective abortions; defines elective abortion as any abortion that is not medically necessary to prevent the death of the pregnant woman or to prevent serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman.
Bill sponsors
TLRC statement
This bill will amend our current abortion laws in Tennessee by allowing a subjective standard for physicians to potentially and willfully permit abortion for a patient in bad faith. This is unacceptable.
The bill would introduce a new definition for the term "medically necessary abortion," and allow physicians to use "good faith" judgment to terminate a pregnancy.
Current law in Tennessee already supports saving the life of the mother during pregnancy if medically necessary.