“People living at the intersections ultimately are the ones who suffer under this bill, although again, I think we can’t forget that they’re coming for you if you have private coverage too."
Bias against Black mothers, perceptions of people in mental health crisis, and policing of poverty may have all played a role in the fatal shooting of the 30-year-old pregnant Seattle woman.
The legislation allows a person to file a wrongful death suit for actions leading to the death of an "unborn viable fetus," which is defined as at least 24 weeks' gestation.
The defendants moved to dismiss the case on the grounds of sovereign immunity, a judicial doctrine that bars people from suing a state or its political subdivisions, agencies, and departments without the state’s consent.
A Republican bill winding its way through the legislature during a special session would further restrict access to abortion care, but political gridlock could endanger its passage.
