State Rep. Douglas Wozniak, with his Michigan House colleagues, today approved a plan to protect a mother and child from a dismemberment abortion.

A dismemberment abortion, or “dilation and evacuation” (D&E), is an abortion in which a health care worker intentionally uses an instrument, device, or object to dismember a living fetus out of a uterus.

The plan bans the procedure and creates penalties for violators.

“Allowing this horrible procedure is no different than letting someone murder an innocent child,” said Wozniak, of Shelby Township. “Every person has the right to life. To take that right away in such a horrific manner from a child who cannot speak for themselves is inhumane.”

Abortion is the leading cause of death in Michigan. Twelve states already have had legislation signed into law that bans dismemberment abortions.

According to data published by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, there were 1,777 D&E abortions in Michigan in 2017. That is nearly five dismemberment abortions per day.

House Bills 4320 and 4321 now move to the Senate for consideration.

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