The complaint isn't new.
Kentucky medical providers have said the Commonwealth's abortion ban creates a great deal of uncertainty surrounding how a number of pregnancy complications should be handled — with doctors fearing they'll be held liable when treating conditions ranging from ectopic pregnancies to excessive bleeding caused by miscarriages.
Yet the proposed fix — introduced late in the session and now attached to a bill with some momentum — is being pushed by a small group of Republican lawmakers opposed to reproductive rights. It's raised questions about the intentions behind and the language in the bill.
Asked about the proposal Thursday, Gov. Andy Beshear said it seems at odds with promises made when the original abortion ban was passed.
"We were told by those that that passed the the trigger law originally that it provided an exception for the life of the mother. And now this bill is saying that it needs to be passed through law. So one question I'm gonna have is: Is it is it more or less restrictive than the current understanding in the medical community?" he told reporters Thursday.
But proponents say it's a good faith first try to shield worried physicians from lawsuits — crafted in tandem with doctor Jeff Goldberg, a representative of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
"We wanted to make sure there was no ambiguity in the law, so that physicians could take care of their patients," former Republican lawmaker and Kentucky Right to Life executive director Addia Wuschner said.
The bill does not add any new exceptions for abortion.