Rhode Island Bill Regarding Infants ‘Born-Alive’ (S 2142)

S 2142 would criminalize the knowing and intentional failure of a physician, nurse, or other licensed medical person to provide reasonable medical care and treatment to an infant born alive.

The bill defines “born alive” to mean:

[…]the complete expulsion or extraction from the mother of that member, at any stage of development, who after such expulsion or extraction breathes or has a beating heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord, or definite movement of voluntary muscles, regardless of whether the umbilical cord has been cut, and regardless of whether the expulsion or extraction occurs as a result of natural or induced labor, cesarean section, or by any other means.

Any such person who fails to provide reasonable medical care and treatment would be charged with a felony, punishable by up to 5 years imprisonment and/or up to a $5,000 fine. If, as a result of that failure, the infant dies, the individual would be guilty of the crime of manslaughter.

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Related Legislation

Similar to S 2152.

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