North Dakota Lawmakers Introduce Extreme Bill Criminalizing Abortion Care

The bill includes the possibility of life in prison without parole for anyone who performs an abortion, and five years in prison for anyone who assists someone getting an abortion

Fargo, ND – This week, North Dakota lawmakers introduced one of the most extreme anti-abortion bills in the country. The legislation would criminalize abortion care, possibly resulting in life in prison without parole for doctors who provide abortion care. The measure leaves the door open for people who discuss abortion care, drive a friend or family member to an abortion appointment, or provide counseling to someone seeking an abortion to also face five years in prison.

Statement from Katie Christensen, North Dakota State Director of External Affairs, Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota Action Fund:

“At a time when the Legislature should be focused on protecting public health, they are pushing this extreme and blatantly unconstitutional bill that would criminalize abortion in North Dakota at any stage of pregnancy, with only a very narrow exception. It is simply wrong to insert the government and politics into personal health decisions that should be left between a patient and their doctor. Under this bill, any health care provider who performed an abortion would be considered to have committed murder and could be imprisoned for life without the possibility of parole.

And it doesn’t stop there. Anyone who offered to drive a pregnant person to a clinic, provided funding for an abortion, or potentially anyone who gave a pregnant person information about where they could obtain an abortion could face criminal charges. Anyone who helps a pregnant person get an abortion could be imprisoned for up to five years. This bill also endangers women’s health and lives by interfering with a doctor’s ability to treat miscarriages and ectopic pregnancies.

This bill is extreme, dangerous to our health, and unconstitutional. Abortion is safe and legal in America and North Dakotans seek out abortion care every year. We should not go to prison for that.”

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Founded in 1992, the Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota Action Fund is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit organization. As the advocacy and electoral arm of PPMNS, we mobilize supporters of all parties to defend and increase access to family planning services and fact based, medically accurate sexuality education. We work to inspire and engage citizens to take up the cause of reproductive health and rights through education, electoral activity, grassroots organizing and legislative advocacy.

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