Friday, June 10th, 2022 was the first day of a new law in West Virginia which prevents patients from getting abortions because they believe their child will be born with a disability.
Governor Jim Justice signed the bill into law in March during the 2022 legislative session. The bill does provide exceptions in case of a medical emergency or in cases where a fetus is not medically viable. Abortions are legal in West Virginia prior to 20 weeks.
Opponents of the Governor’s decision have accused the bill as being a partisan decision used by ”politicians to interfere with personal productive health decisions.” But supporters of the bill wonder where the rights of a living human being are in the decision to terminate an unwanted pregnancy.
West Virginia has only one clinic that provides abortion services which is the Women’s Health Center of West Virginia in Charleston.
