ATLANTA, March 1 (UPI) -- The Georgia House of Representatives passed a bill that would make it illegal for a woman to get an abortion after the 20th week of pregnancy.
The bill, passed Wednesday, would cut six weeks from the time a woman is permitted to have an elective abortion. Doctors performing abortions after this time, even in the event of medical necessity, could be charged with a felony and face up to 10 years in prison.
The bill is referred to as the "fetal pain" bill, because the fetus is believed to feel pain at 20 weeks, therefore the state has an interest in protecting it.
Critics of the bill point out it makes no exceptions for cases of rape or incest.
Dr. Ruth Cline, an Athens, Ga., obstetrician, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution the bill puts physicians and patients at risk, making it difficult to perform what could be a necessary procedure for a patient at risk.
"It's time for government to get out of my examination room and my office," Cline said. "If you legislators want to practice medicine, go to medical school."
The bill's primary sponsor, Rep. Doug McKillip, R-Athens, said the bill would save "1,000 to 1,500 lives."
