State Considers Bill Treating Fetus As Person Opponents Say Bill Has Abortion Implications

State Considers Bill Treating Fetus As Person
Opponents Say Bill Has Abortion Implications
POSTED: 10:46 am EST February 15, 2010

CONCORD, N.H. -- The New Hampshire House will vote Wednesday whether to allow prosecutors to charge people who kill a fetus with murder, manslaughter and negligent homicide.

Opponents said the bill is an attempt to define an unborn child in statute.

Supporters said it has nothing to do with abortion and is in response to a 2006 case in which a speeding driver slammed his car into a cab, killing a passenger. The cab driver was pregnant and delivered a baby who wasn't breathing but was kept alive temporarily on life support.

The state Supreme Court threw out the driver's conviction in the baby's death because state law does not consider a fetus a person unless the baby shows evidence of life.

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