H. B. 2198
(By Delegate Shaver)
[Introduced January 12, 2011; referred to the
Committee on Health and Human Resources then the Judiciary.]
A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §16-19-3b, relating to prohibiting the use of the body of an unborn fetus for medical experimentation or scientific investigation except as necessary to diagnose a disease or condition suspected to exist in the mother’s or fetus’s body; and prescribing criminal penalties for violation of the section.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated §16-19-3b, to read as follows:
ARTICLE 19. ANATOMICAL GIFT ACT.
§16-19-3b. Prohibition against using bodies of fetuses for certain purposes.
The body of an unborn fetus may not be used for medical experimentation or scientific investigation except as necessary to diagnose a disease or condition suspected to exist in the body of the mother or the fetus. A person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined not less than $1,000 nor more than $5,000 or confined in jail not more than six months or both fined and confined.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to prohibit the use of the body of an unborn fetus for medical experimentation or scientific investigation except as necessary to diagnose a disease or condition suspected to exist in the mother’s or fetus’s body. The bill also prescribes criminal penalties for violation of the section.
This section is new; therefore, it has been completely underscored.