[Apologetics] Law could mean death penalty for doctors

[Stephen Korsman]

Law could mean death penalty for doctors

Associated Press - Aug. 29, 2005, 5:15PM

AUSTIN - Texas doctors who perform abortions without parental approval or after the third trimester could face capital murder charges because of a new law that takes effect this week, a prosecutors group says.

The Texas District and County Attorneys Association has outlined that scenario in its new book updating the Texas penal code and in public presentations around the state. The group says such charges could occur under the new law because of the 2003 fetal protection law. 

But key legislators said today that wasn't their intent.

...

"I think it's a little bit of a stretch," said Elizabeth Graham, director of Texas Right To Life. "The legislative intent clearly was not to incarcerate doctors or execute doctors who are performing abortions, illegal or otherwise." 

The chances are "very slim" that a district attorney would try such a prosecution against a doctor, Graham said. "I really don't see it happening," she said. 

More at ... http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/printstory.mpl/metropolitan/3330041
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