This post originally appeared at https://www.prolifewi.org/blog/2025/11/action-alert-clarifying-abortion

SENATE PUBLIC HEARING WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 5 ON BILL CLARIFYING DEFINITION OF ABORTION IN STATE STATUTES

By Matt Sande, Pro-Life Wisconsin Legislative Director

State Sen. Romaine Quinn (R-Cameron) and State Rep. Joy Goeben (R-Hobart) have introduced companion legislation (Senate Bill [SB] 553/Assembly Bill [AB] 546) that provides definitional clarity in Wisconsin abortion law.

The bills do so by amending the various statutory definitions of “abortion” to make explicit that a physician’s performance of a medical procedure or treatment designed or intended to prevent the death of a pregnant woman and not designed or intended to kill the unborn child is not an abortion. Such procedures include medical emergency early induction or C-section, removal of a dead embryo or fetus (miscarriage/stillborn), or removal of an ectopic, molar, or anembryonic pregnancy. Abortion, statutorily defined as the intentional killing of a preborn living human being, is never medically necessary to save the life or improve the health of the mother. Abortion is NOT healthcare!

Equal care for mother and unborn baby in a health emergency is the antithesis of intentionally killing a preborn, living human being. Medical emergency early inductions and cesarean sections seek to separate baby from mom in a concerted effort to save both lives. They are not legal abortions. Removal of a miscarriage or stillborn fetus is not an abortion. Sadly, and obviously, the embryo/fetus is already dead.

Removal of an ectopic pregnancy, where a fertilized ovum lodges in the fallopian tube and grows there, is not an abortion. The damaged portion of the tube containing the embryonic baby may be removed where it is clearly necessary to prevent rupture and save the mother’s life. Such an operation is justified by the principle of double effect, because the death of the embryo is an unintended effect of an operation independently justified to save the mother’s life. It does not involve the intentional killing of an unborn child. Someday, medical science may be capable of transferring the embedded embryo directly into the uterine wall.

Legally, the above-described medical operations are not considered abortions and have never been prosecuted by any district attorney in any county in this country, even when the mother’s life was not immediately threatened. Why? Because they do not involve intentional killing! They involve resolute physicians making their best effort to save both patients, giving equal care to mother and child. But to remove any doubt, the clarifications in Senate Bill 553 are positively needed.

SB 553/AB 546 are backed by the Embrace Them Both Coalition, comprised of Pro-Life Wisconsin, Wisconsin Catholic Conference, Wisconsin Right to Life, and Wisconsin Family Action. Please view the Coalition legislative memo encouraging co-sponsorship of the bills.

The Senate Committee on Licensing, Regulatory Reform, State and Federal Affairs has scheduled a public hearing on SB 553 for this Wednesday. Specifically, the hearing will be held in Room 201 Southeast of the State Capitol Building at 11:00 am on Wednesday, November 5, 2025.

ACT NOW!

With your help, Pro-Life Wisconsin will fight for passage of SB 553:

• Please ATTEND the public hearing and testify or register IN FAVOR OF Senate Bill 553.

• If you are unable to attend the public hearing, please CALL or EMAIL your state senator TODAY and urge him/her to SUPPORT SB 553. Tell them “The removal of a miscarriage, stillborn fetus, or ectopic pregnancy is NOT AN ABORTION and state law should make this crystal clear.”

• Don’t know your State Senator? Visit legis.wisconsin.gov and type in your home address under “Who Are My Legislators” or call the Legislative Hotline: 1-800-362-9472.

 Thank you for making your pro-life voice heard!