Utah Decides to Tone Down "Miscarriage Bill", But Some Miscarriages Would Still be a Felony

The bill in Utah that would have criminalized miscarriage is headed back to State Legislature where some of its worst elements will be removed. However, they still want to make some forms of miscarriage a felony offense.

The bill's sponsor, State Rep. Carl Wimmer, says that he will take out the provisions making a woman's "reckless act" inducing miscarriage eligible for homicide prosecution. This part of the bill could have gotten women a life sentence for staying in an abusive relationship, falling down stairs or drinking alcohol, and other "reckless" acts. The upcoming revision has been attributed to the backlash by the pro-choice community.

Wimmer, however, will leave intact language that would criminalize a woman's "intentional" act to induce a miscarriage. This means that some miscarriages and/or illegal abortions could still leave a woman open to homicide charges.

The bill was put together in response to a situation in which a 17-year-old girl paid someone to beat her up so that she would miscarry.