Va. lawmakers reject bill for fetus anesthesia

RICHMOND

Legislation promoting anesthesia for fetuses during abortions has failed for the fifth time in six years.

A Senate committee with a long history of voting down anti-abortion bills voted 11-4 today to reject Del. Ben Cline's fetal anesthesia bill. The measure would have required doctors to tell women seeking an abortion that a fetus can feel pain at 20 weeks of gestational age, and that anesthesia is available.

But a member of the Education and Health Committee who also is a pediatric neurologist disputed that fetuses have the nerve connections to transmit pain at 20 weeks. Sen. Ralph Northam said that doesn't happen until 27 or 28 weeks.