Legislator Wants To Ban Sale, Purchase of Fetal Tissue in Georgia

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A Sandy Springs legislator wants to make it a felony to sell or purchase tissue from an aborted fetus in Georgia.

Republican State Rep. Wendell Willard, who chairs the House Judiciary Committee, on Monday said he will introduce the legislation, which would make such transaction punishable by five years in prison.

“Women facing this crisis must be confident that they are able to receive counseling, as the law requires, from someone who is not selfishly motivated by profit,” Willard said in a press release. “I take seriously our charge to protect the dignity of human life, and we will see to it that those who would engage in such a barbaric trade will face the full force of justice in our state.”

Specifically, the bill would outlaw the sale or purchase, or offer of sale or purchase, of an aborted fetus or any part of such a fetus. The bill will provide exemption to transfer, without monetary consideration, such fetal tissue for hospitals, colleges/universities and other laboratories and institutions that conduct medical research.

The bill will be introduced in the 2016 session of the General Assembly, which starts in January.

Tell us: what do you think of Willard’s plans?

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Photo credit: Wendell Willard’s Facebook page