Bill > S886

This bill, titled the "District of Columbia Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act," aims to amend federal law, specifically Title 18 of the United States Code, to prohibit abortions in the District of Columbia after 20 weeks of post-fertilization age, based on the assertion that unborn children are capable of feeling pain at that stage of development. The bill outlines findings from medical research suggesting that pain receptors are present and react to stimuli by 20 weeks, and that fetal anesthesia is used during surgeries on unborn children to mitigate pain responses. It establishes that performing or attempting an abortion within the District of Columbia is unlawful unless the physician determines the probable post-fertilization age of the unborn child and ensures it is less than 20 weeks, with exceptions only if the abortion is medically necessary to save the life of the pregnant woman, and even then, it must be performed in a manner that offers the best chance of survival for the unborn child unless it poses a greater risk to the woman's life or irreversible physical impairment. Violators face criminal penalties, including fines and imprisonment, and the bill allows for civil actions by the woman, her relatives, or other specified parties to seek damages and injunctive relief, with provisions for attorney's fees. The bill also mandates reporting requirements for physicians performing abortions, detailing the method used, the gestational age, and other relevant information, while protecting the anonymity of the woman involved, and requires the health agency to publish annual statistics.