Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, a Republican, signed a bill this week that prohibits abortions for fetal genetic abnormalities, the Arizona Republic reports.
Under the new law, medical providers who terminate pregnancies solely due to a genetic condition could face jail time, the Republic says, noting there are exceptions for genetic conditions that are considered lethal. It adds that the bill further prohibits state universities from providing terminations, bans the mailing of abortion-inducing drugs, and confers civil rights on fetuses. "There's immeasurable value in every single life — regardless of genetic makeup," Ducey says in a statement.
Critics of the bill argue that it is "medically unsound" and unconstitutional, according to the Republic. In a rebuttal, Arizona Democrats say the new law "is an expansive and intrusive step toward criminalizing, restricting, and regulating women, doctors, universities, and public institutions."
Other states, including Mississippi, Missouri, and North Dakota, have passed bills prohibiting the termination of pregnancies based on fetal genetic anomalies.