Criminalizes the knowing and intentional failure of a physician, nurse, or other licensed medical person to provide reasonable medical care and treatment to an infant born alive as a felony.

Plain-English Summary

This bill would make it a serious crime (a felony) for doctors, nurses, or other licensed medical professionals to deliberately withhold reasonable medical care from a baby that has been born alive. Under this legislation, if a licensed healthcare provider knowingly and intentionally fails to provide appropriate medical treatment to a live-born infant, they could face felony criminal charges. The bill applies specifically to infants who are born alive, regardless of the circumstances of the birth.

The people most directly affected by this bill are licensed medical professionals — including physicians, nurses, and other healthcare providers — who are present at or involved in a birth. For these professionals, the bill would establish a legal obligation to provide reasonable medical care to any infant born alive, and failure to do so intentionally could result in criminal prosecution and the penalties that come with a felony conviction, which can include prison time and loss of professional licenses.

The bill has been introduced in the Rhode Island House of Representatives and referred to the House Judiciary Committee, which means it is still in the early stages of the legislative process and has not yet been voted on. It would only become law if it passes through the full legislative process and is signed by the governor.