W.Va. lawmakers OK ban on 2nd trimester abortion method

A second-trimester abortion method would be banned in many instances under a bill that has passed the West Virginia Legislature.

The House of Delegates voted 86-13 in favor of banning the commonly used abortion practice Monday. The bill has already passed the Senate and will head to Democratic Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin.

Courts have blocked similar bans that Kansas and Oklahoma enacted in 2015.

The bill would ban the dilation and evacuation method unless the doctor already had caused demise of the fetus. It would not ban the method in cases of medical emergency.

There would be no criminal or civil penalties, but physicians could potentially lose their medical licenses.

Last year, lawmakers overrode Tomblin's veto of a ban on abortions 20 weeks after conception. Tomblin cited concerns about constitutionality.