Nebraska Restricts Abortion Access
April 15, 2010
This week, Nebraska governor Dave Heineman (R) signed a law banning most abortions in the state after 20 weeks gestation based on unsubstantiated claims that a fetus has the capacity to feel pain. The law is scheduled to go into effect on October 15.
“There is certainly no solid scientific evidence establishing that a fetus can perceive pain at these earlier stages, so any court decisions to uphold such broader laws could only do so by disregarding the importance of good scientific evidence,” said NAF Board Member and attorney Caitlin Borgmann. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has also stated that there is no legitimate evidence supporting the perception of pain in the fetus.