West Virginia Code § 16-2M-4

Abortion of fetus of pain capable gestational age prohibited
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(a) No person may perform or induce, or attempt to perform or induce, an abortion when it
has been determined, by the physician performing or inducing or attempting to perform or
induce the abortion or by another physician upon whose determination that physician relies,
that the probable gestational age of the fetus has reached the pain capable gestational age,
unless in the reasonable medical judgment of a reasonably prudent physiciaen there exists a
nonmedically viable fetus or the patient has a condition that, on the basis of a reasonably
prudent physician's reasonable medical judgment, so complicates her mredical condition as to
necessitate the abortion of her pregnancy to avert her death or to avert serious risk of
substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function, not including
psychological or emotional conditions. No condition may be deemed a medical emergency if
based on a claim or diagnosis that the woman will engage int conduct which she intends to
result in her death or in substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily
function.
(b) When an abortion upon a patient whose fetus has been determined to have a probable
gestational age that has reached the pain capsable gestational age is not prohibited by
subsection (a) of this section, the physician shall terminate the pregnancy in the manner
which, in reasonable medical judgment, provides the best opportunity for the fetus to
survive, unless, in reasonable medicgal judgment, termination of the pregnancy in that
manner would pose a greater risk either of the death of the patient or of the substantial and
irreversible physical impairmeent of a major bodily function of the patient than would other
available methods.

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