Democrat Leader Book warns ‘women will die’ over six-week abortion ban

Published Apr. 10, 2023, 11:07 a.m. ET | Updated Apr. 10, 2023

Florida Senate Minority Leader Lauren Book: "The State of Florida should not be criminalizing doctors for providing medical care," March 13, 2023. (Video/The Florida Channel via Lauren Book, Twitter)
Florida Senate Minority Leader Lauren Book: "The State of Florida should not be criminalizing doctors for providing medical care," March 13, 2023. (Video/The Florida Channel via Lauren Book, Twitter)

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – Florida Senate Minority Leader Lauren Book, D-Davie, said “women will die” if and when the proposed six-week abortion ban passes and is signed into law.

The Florida Senate recently passed a six-week abortion ban, providing exceptions for rape, incest, and human trafficking.

The proposal, sponsored by Sen. Erin Grall, R-Fort Pierce, is titled the “Heartbeat Protection Act” and still needs approval from the House.

“Despite denials from across the aisle, the truth is clear: Florida mothers who suffer miscarriages are ALREADY being forced to the brink of death before receiving needed abortion care. This year’s ban will only make it worse. Women will die,” Book said.

Book, who was arrested last week after peacefully protesting the ban, tweeted a Washington Post article titled, “Two friends were denied care after Florida banned abortion. One almost died.”

She said the mothers in her district were “denied needed abortion health care following traumatic miscarriages.”

The proposal bans abortions after six weeks, unless the pregnancy is the result of rape, incest, human trafficking, and the fetus is not older than 15 weeks. Other exceptions include if the mother’s life is at risk.

The bill clarifies the exception for fatal fetal abnormalities is available until the third trimester, rather than until viability.

The Senate passed the bill 26-13. The bill’s sponsor said that motherhood should be celebrated.

“There is a heartbeat. There is a life. […] It is something that should be celebrated. It is something that we should be encouraging women in this time to own the difference that they are able to make – through the children that they bring into the world,” Grall said.

A similar bill is working through the House, co-sponsored by Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka, R-Fort Myers, and Rep. Jennifer Canady, R-Lakeland.

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