DeSantis Was A Co-Sponsor Of A Bill That Would Provide Protections For Fetuses “Born Alive” During Abortion Procedures. According to the Orlando Sentinel, “Both candidates oppose abortion, with Putnam telling the council members that he would support a “heartbeat bill,” which would prohibit doctors from performing abortions if a fetal heartbeat can be detected. Iowa’s Republican governor signed such a bill Friday, setting up a legal fight that supporters hope could lead to a test of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision. [… ] DeSantis, a three-term congressman from Palm Coast, was not asked directly about abortion legislation, but he is a co-sponsor of a bill that would provide protections for fetuses “born alive” during abortion procedures. He recounted seeing an ultrasound of his son, who was born this year, calling it “a powerful example of science reinforcing something that I believe.” [Orlando Sentinel, 5/6/18]
[Video] 2017: DeSantis Said Assistance Should Be Provided “If A Child Survives A Late Term Abortion Attempt.” “Q: women's health and Republican men? DeSantis: support women's health. Wife had baby. Against funds for abortion. If child survives a late term abortion attempt, assistance to them.” [Discussion with DeSantis Daytona, 3/11/2017; 170311_SEM_619]
2018: DeSantis Voted For The Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act Which Required Health Care Workers Care For An Infant Born Instead Of Aborted Resultant From A Failed Abortion. In January 2018, DeSantis voted for legislation that would have, according to Congressional Quarterly, “require[d] health care practitioners to provide care to an infant born alive during a failed abortion that is equivalent to the care they would provide to any other infant born at the same gestational age. It would [have] impose[d] criminal fines, and penalties of up to five years in prison, for failure to do so, and would provide for a patient in such circumstances to file a lawsuit against the health care provider for certain monetary and punitive damages. The bill would [have] require[d] hospital and clinic practitioners and employees to report any knowledge of failures to provide such care to the appropriate state or federal law enforcement agency, and would [have] permit[ted] prosecution of individuals who fail to do so.” The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 241 to 183. [House Vote 36, 1/19/18; Congressional Quarterly, 1/19/18; Congressional Actions, H.R. 4712]
2015: DeSantis Voted For The Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. In September 2015, DeSantis voted for a bill that would have imposed criminal penalties on doctors who do not give appropriate care to an infant born during an abortion. According to Congressional Quarterly, the legislation would have “require[d] health care practitioners to give the same level of care to an infant born alive during a failed abortion as they would give to any other infant born at the same gestational age. The bill also would [have] require[d] health care practitioners to ensure that these infants are immediately sent to a hospital. Health care practitioners and hospital and abortion clinic employees who know about a violation would be required to report the failure to comply with these requirements to law enforcement. People who violate these requirements regarding level of care and reporting violations would be subject to criminal fines or up to five years in prison, or both. The bill would prohibit the prosecution of mothers of born-alive infants for either conspiracy to violate born-alive protections or as accessory to the crime. The bill also would allow mothers to file lawsuits against health care providers who fail to appropriately care for born-alive infants from failed abortions.” The vote was on passage. The House passed the legislation by a vote of 248 to 177. The Senate took no substantive action on the legislation. [House Vote 506, 9/18/15; Congressional Quarterly, 9/18/15; Congressional Actions, H.R. 3504]