West Virginia is the latest state to ban abortions because of a prenatal diagnosis of a disability or a chromosomal condition, such as Down syndrome.
West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice signed the bill on World Down Syndrome Day, March 21.
The law does make exceptions for medical emergencies and states “a licensed medical professional may not perform or attempt to perform or induce an abortion unless the patient acknowledges that the abortion is not being sought because of a disability.”
Several states have passed similar bills. Last month, a Tennessee law banning abortions based on a Down syndrome diagnosis was reinstated by a federal appeals court, reversing a previous ruling that blocked the measure.
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