MI Abortion Doctors Could Face 10-Year Felony Under Republican Lawmaker's Proposed Bill

MICHIGAN — Some Republican state lawmakers introduced a bill Tuesday that would punish a doctor with a 10-year felony and up to a $100,000 fine for performing an "illegal" abortion under the state's 1931 abortion ban.

The U.S. Supreme Court overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade decision Friday, triggering Michigan's 1931 law banning abortions in nearly all circumstances, except to save the life of a mother.

However, a temporary injunction was placed on the law by Michigan Court of Claims Judge Elizabeth Gleicher, prohibiting immediate enforcement of the law. But courts can overturn that injunction at any moment.

The bill, "Protection at Conception Act," was introduced by Republican State Rep. Steve Carra from Three Rivers. Not only would it punish a doctor with manslaughter charges, but it also seeks a 20-year sentence for those making, selling or distributing abortion-inducing medicine.

"This is the most comprehensive pro-life legislation introduced in Michigan and will be legally enforceable," Carra said in a statement Wednesday.

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Although it's unclear whether the bill could stand due to pending litigation surrounding the state's 1931 law banning abortion, let alone an inevitable Gov. Gretchen Whitmer veto, its proposal demonstrates how far some Republican lawmakers are willing to go to enforce the state's 1931 law banning abortions.

"The fact that there are legislators in the Republican Party who want to criminalize this, punish doctors, means it is going to have a chilling effect on medical care in so many ways beyond this one issue," Whitmer said.