Provides duties/obligations of medical personnel to born-alive infants resulting from an abortion punishable as a felony along with a civil action for compensatory/punitive damages/automatic one year license suspension.

Rhode Island Born-Alive Infant Protection Act

This bill establishes legal requirements for medical personnel when an infant is born alive during or after an attempted abortion. Specifically, it would require healthcare providers — such as doctors and nurses — to provide the same level of medical care and treatment to these infants that they would give to any other newborn baby born at the same stage of development. The central idea is that once a baby is born alive, regardless of the circumstances of the birth, medical staff have a legal duty to act in that infant's best interest.

The bill creates serious consequences for medical personnel who fail to meet these obligations. Violating the law would be treated as a felony — a serious criminal offense that can result in significant penalties. In addition to criminal charges, the bill allows for a civil lawsuit, meaning the infant (through a legal representative) or others could sue for compensatory damages (to cover harm caused) and punitive damages (additional financial penalties meant to punish wrongdoing). Any healthcare provider found in violation would also automatically lose their professional license for at least one year.

This bill primarily affects physicians, nurses, and other medical professionals who work in abortion-related care settings. It also has implications for patients and healthcare facilities. The bill has been introduced and referred to the House Judiciary Committee, where it will be reviewed before any further action is taken. It has not yet been voted on or signed into law.