A bill filed at the Arkansas Legislature on Wednesday aims to clarify state law concerning abortion.
In 2019, Arkansas passed Act 180 prohibiting abortion except to save the life of the mother in a medical emergency. Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to reverse Roe v. Wade, the state began enforcing Act 180. Today, abortion in Arkansas is prohibited except when the mother’s life is at risk in a medical emergency.
H.B. 1610 by Rep. Robin Lundstrum (R — Elm Springs) and Sen. Jimmy Hickey (R — Texarkana) would clarify the definition of “medical emergency” in cases where the mother’s life is at risk. The bill would also strengthen legal protections for doctors who treat pregnant women, and would make it clear that abortion remains illegal in Arkansas except to save the life of the mother.
H.B. 1610 would help clarify that “medical emergency” refers to situations where the woman’s life is in danger from a physical disorder, illness, or injury.
The bill says that psychological or emotional conditions cannot be used to justify abortion. This would help prevent an abortionist or a judge from trying to broaden Arkansas’ exceptions for abortion.
H.B. 1610 outlines how doctors decide if an abortion is necessary to save a mother’s life.
Under H.B. 1610, physicians would use “reasonable medical judgment” to determine whether abortion is necessary. This is the same medical and legal standard used to make other important medical decisions.
The bill also says that a child should not be aborted when there are other ways besides abortion to save the life of the mother.
And H.B. 1610 makes it clear that a doctor does not violate the law if an unborn child accidentally or unintentionally dies because of legitimate medical treatment the doctor provided to the mother.
All of this would help close possible loopholes in Arkansas’ abortion law.
Arkansas has been named the most pro-life state in America, and lawmakers have enacted dozens of good measures protecting women and unborn children from abortion — including laws that generally prohibit abortion except to save the life of the mother.
H.B. 1610 is a good bill that would bring better clarity to Arkansas’ abortion laws and make it easier for the state to continue protecting innocent human life.
Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.
