In light of the ongoing murder trial of Philadelphia abortionist Dr. Kermit B. Gosnell, House committee leaders on Thursday made public copies of letters they sent to health officials and attorneys general in all 50 states asking for monitoring of abortion clinic, reports the Washington Times.
The Gosnell trial “raises troubling questions about the practices of abortion clinics, and whether state departments of health are aware, or even conducting appropriate monitoring of these facilities,” wrote Fred Upton, R-Mich., chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, in a letter signed by five colleagues.
State public health officials have until May 22 to provide information about their licensing regulations; inspections; handling of complaints; license suspensions and revocations; disciplinary actions; and legal protections for infants, including born-alive infants.
Documentation must cover the years 2008 to 2013.
The 50 attorneys general have a June 1 deadline to answer five questions for the House Judiciary Committee regarding the federal Born-Alive Infants Protection Act and any similar laws passed in their state.
“Do prosecutors in your state treat the deliberate killing of newborns, including those newborns who were delivered alive in the process of abortions, as a criminal offense? If so, have there been any prosecutions in your state for this crime?” asked House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., and Rep. Trent Franks, R-Ariz., chairman of the House Judiciary subcommittee on the Constitution and civil justice.
The lawmakers also inquired about state laws on newborns delivered alive in abortions, infanticide laws, maternal deaths related to abortion and legal limits on abortion late in a pregnancy.
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