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# Louisiana Bill Would Require Women to Stay on Life Support if Pregnant

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by 

[Maya Rhodan](https://time.com/author/maya-rhodan/)


## Maya Rhodan


Jun 10, 2014 2:18 AM UTC

by 

[Maya Rhodan](https://time.com/author/maya-rhodan/)


## Maya Rhodan


Jun 10, 2014 2:18 AM UTC

Louisiana [Gov. Bobby Jindal](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/09/jindal-signs-bill-to-keep%5Fn%5F5473633.html?&ncid=tweetlnkushpmg00000016) will soon decide on a bill that could require hospitals to keep pregnant women on life support, regardless of her family’s wishes.

The [bill](https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/ViewDocument.aspx?d=913101), which passed the Louisiana State House of Representatives [last week](http://www.nola.com/news/baton-rouge/index.ssf/2014/06/louisiana%5Fpregnant%5Fwomen%5Ffetus.html), specifies that if a woman is at least 20 weeks pregnant, she must be kept on life support.

State lawmakers say the law would protect healthy fetuses from meeting an untimely demise as a result of the mother’s condition. Abortion rights groups oppose the legislation, the New Orleans [_Times-Picayune_](http://www.nola.com/news/baton-rouge/index.ssf/2014/06/louisiana%5Fpregnant%5Fwomen%5Ffetus.html)reports.

A state Senate version of the bill allowed family members to request that expectant mothers be taken off of life support, _Huffington Post_ [said](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/09/jindal-signs-bill-to-keep%5Fn%5F5473633.html?&ncid=tweetlnkushpmg00000016), but the provision was scrapped in committee. Jindal is expected to sign the bill into law.

A similar law faced scrutiny in Texas earlier this year, when a 14-week pregnant woman was kept on life support for weeks after her husband found her unconscious. A judge later ruled the family’s request to remove her from life support must be [granted](http://nation.time.com/2014/01/26/hospital-will-remove-brain-dead-pregnant-woman-from-life-support/).

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