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Utah Senator Proposes Fetal Anesthesia Law

A Utah senator is working on legislation that would require doctors to administer anesthesia to a fetus before an abortion based on the premise that the fetus can feel pain.

Sen. Curt Bramble, R-Provo, requested that legislative staff begin drafting the bill Tuesday. He says he's still determining at what point in the gestational process the rule would apply.

Montana lawmakers passed a similar law in 2015 requiring fetal anesthesia before surgeries, including abortion, after 20 or more gestational weeks.

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Montana's Democratic governor later vetoed the measure.

Karrie Galloway, CEO of Planned Parenthood Association of Utah, says Bramble's proposal would insert a political opinion into a woman's private medical decision.