Mississippi § 97-3-4 - Failed abortion; unlawful for physician to intentionally allow or cause living child to die; care of living child mandated; penalties.

§ 97-3-4. Failed abortion; unlawful for physician to intentionally allow or cause living child to die; care of living child mandated; penalties.

It shall be unlawful for any physician performing an abortion that results in the delivery of a living child to intentionally allow or cause the child to die. If the child is viable, such child shall be immediately provided appropriate medical care and comfort care necessary to sustain life. If the child is not viable, such child shall be provided comfort care. The provision of this section shall include, but not be limited to, a child born with physical or mental handicapping conditions which, in the opinion of the parent, the physician or other persons, diminishes the quality of the child’s life, a child born alive during the course of an attempted abortion and a child not wanted by the parent. As used in this section the term “child” includes every infant member of the species homo sapiens who is born alive at any stage of development. Any person who violates this section shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, be imprisoned for not less than one (1) year nor more than ten (10) years in the State Penitentiary and fined not more than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) but not less than Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00).