Harrisburg – November 18, 2019 – Democratic Chair of the PA Senate Health and Human Services Committee State Senator Art Haywood (D-Montgomery/Philadelphia) released the following statement opposing Down Syndrome abortion legislation:

“Termination of a pregnancy is an extremely difficult decision for a woman and her family to make for any reason.  That decision should be made with the consultation of a doctor, not the Pennsylvania legislature.  The reasons for termination, whatever they may or may not be—must be patient centered.  The government should not impose a triage of reasons to interfere with a choice in these difficult circumstances.

The Down Syndrome legislation is invalid as numerous courts have decided.  This Pennsylvania bill to take away the right to choose before viability is just as unconstitutional as similar laws across the nation.

There is much that Pennsylvania can do to enhance the lives of individuals with Down Syndrome and other disabilities.  This legislation to take away a woman’s choice is not part of that.”

Down Syndrome Protection Legislation would prohibit the abortion of fetuses with a diagnosis of Down Syndrome, an Amendment to the Abortion Control Act.

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