Tennessee governor signs strict late-term abortion ban

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http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/tennessee-governor-signs-strict-late-term-abortion-ban/ar-BBB4JVh?li=BBnb7Kz

The measure will further limit the few abortions already performed in Tennessee past the point of fetal viability — and potentially send doctors to jail if they fail to prove in court that an abortion of a viable fetus was necessary to save a woman's life or prevent substantial or irreversible harm to a "major bodily function of a pregnant woman."

On July 1, Tennessee will become one of at least 21 states that explicitly ban abortions beyond viability. But the measure, called the Tennessee Infants Protection Act, goes further than most other bans and could become the subject of a lengthy court challenge.

In early April, Tennessee Attorney General Herbert Slatery called the measure "constitutionally suspect" by placing a doctor acting in good faith at risk for felony prosecution. Slatery also questioned whether a lack of an exception for a woman's emotional or mental health could survive a legal challenge.