Utah Abortions
Utah Abortions Went Up Slightly in 2007 New Health Department Figures Show
Salt Lake City, UT (LifeNews.com) -- A new report from the Utah state health department finds the number of abortions rose slightly in 2007. With 3,516 abortions done that year, the most recent for which annual statistics have been compiled, that is an increase of 72 abortions from the 2006 figures. Still, the numbers are significantly lower before the national trend of declining abortions that has taken place over the last 15-20 years. The state report indicates most abortions were done on Utah residents, but more than 400 were done on women who live in Idaho, Wyoming and Nevada. Idaho and Wyoming led with 206 and 152 women, respectively, getting abortions in Utah. Including the abortions on out of state women, there were 3,932 abortions done in Utah in 2007, an increase over the 3,753 abortions done in 2006. Though the number of abortions has increased, the rise appears to be due to the increasing population of the state as the abortion rate, the number of abortions per 1,000 women of reproductive age, remained the same. Ref. Source 3
Utah Abortion Bill Could Punish Women for Miscarriages, Domestic Violence
Utah lawmakers have approved a measure that would allow women to be charged with murder if they commit an "intentional, knowing or reckless act" that causes a miscarriage. Critics fear the measure could target women for all kinds of actions, including staying with an abusive partner. Ref. Source 9
Utah Court: Unborn Baby is a "Minor Child" in Criminal Law
The Supreme Court of Utah has deemed a preborn baby a "minor child" under Utah statute after a health clinic in Provo disregarded Amelia Sanchez's plea to induce labor when she was pregnant, likely resulting in the death of her unborn son in April of 2006. Ref. Source 4
Utah Installs Nation's First 72-Hour Abortion Waiting Period
This week, Utah officials are implementing the nation's first law that requires women to wait 72 hours before having an abortion that will destroy the life of an unborn child. Abortion advocates are up in arms about the new law, that allows women considering an abortion a greater period of time for reflection and time to find abortion alternatives. Ref. Source 8
Planned Parenthood draws support, protests at Capitol
Hundreds of people gathered on the steps of the state Capitol Tuesday evening in support of Planned Parenthood as controversy over the reproductive health organization continues to fuel demonstrations across the nation. Ref. Source 5u