Legislative action for H.1453

House Bill H.1463 An act relative to unborn victims of violence is scheduled for a hearing at the State House on Tuesday, May 16, 2023 at 1:00 PM. This important bill would codify the trend in Massachusetts case law to recognize the unborn child as a victim of violent acts inflicted upon the unborn child and/or her mother.

The hearing will be conducted both in person in Hearing Room A-2 and virtually. The public is invited to participate in this hybrid hearing, which will be live-streamed on the Legislature's website. 
 
To register to testify virtually, you must provide contact information on the linked form by 5:00 p.m. on May 15, 2023. Once registered, you will receive further instruction on how to participate. 
 
Individuals and groups testifying in person are also encouraged to register online. 
 
Written testimony may be submitted to the Judiciary Committee at 24 Beacon Street, Room 136, Boston, MA 02133 or by e-mail to [email protected]. 
 
Please add your voice in support of this bill that recognizes the humanity of unborn children who are injured or killed as the result of serious bodily injury inflicted upon them or their mothers.
 
Thank you for all you do for LIFE.
 
Best regards,
Patricia D. Stewart, Esq.
Executive Director, Massachusetts Citizens for Life

H.1463 An Act relative to unborn victims of violence

FACTS AND STATS

  1. Studies have shown that trauma causes more maternal death than any other medical complication of pregnancy. The mechanics of such trauma include: gunshot wounds, stab wounds, motor vehicle accidents, strangulation, blunt head injuries, and burns.
  2. The main cause of fetal death is maternal death secondary to blunt trauma of the abdomen.
  3. Most fetal deaths occur early in pregnancy.
  4. Currently, at least 29 states have fetal homicide laws that apply to the earliest phases of pregnancy. Massachusetts case law recognizes viable unborn babies as victims of violence in instances of vehicular homicide and involuntary manslaughter. However, the law does not recognize the unborn child as a victim of violence at earlier stages of pre-natal development.
  5. H.1463 seeks to cure this deficiency by defining an unborn child as “the individual human life in existence and developing from conception until death” and declaring murder, involuntary manslaughter, voluntary manslaughter, assault, battery, and assault and battery that cause the death or injury of an unborn child a crime punishable by imprisonment, or a fine, or both.  
  6. The trend in Massachusetts common law is away from the rule that denies a right of action or remedy in all cases involving an unborn child and toward rejection of the viability test. It’s time for statutory law to follow.