Created: 4/3/2008 8:15:55 AM 
TALLAHASSEE, FL (AP) -- Causing the death of a fetus would lead to a murder charge -- no matter how far along the pregnancy is -- under a bill passed in the House.
The bill's sponsor, Representative Ralph Poppell of Vero Beach, says its purpose is to protect unborn children at any stage of development and pregnant women. But opponents say the bill is an attempt to change the law on when life begins in Florida by giving rights to all fetuses and to ultimately infringe on a woman's right to have an abortion.
Representative Susan Bucher of West Palm Beach questioned Poppell about when life would begin under his bill, but Poppell said the courts would have to decide when the law would apply.
The House passed the bill by a vote of 80-36. A comparable bill is filed in the Senate but hasn't passed a committee.
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