A new law in Massachusetts that expands abortion access up to the point of birth is drawing criticism from neonatologist Dr. Robin Pierucci, who calls the legislation "very disturbing." The Prioritizing Patient Access to Care Act, signed into law by Gov. Maura Healey, removes the state's previous 24-week gestational limit on abortions, positioning Massachusetts as the 10th state to permit the procedure up to full term.

The law, slated to take effect in less than 90 days, allows abortions based on a physician's professional judgment. Dr. Pierucci, who cares for newborns with serious health complications, stated in an interview that such decisions should not be made based on limited prenatal information, arguing that even when a condition is incurable, medical professionals have an "obligation to care" for the infant.

"If it was really about healthcare, then it would be about protecting both the mom and the baby. And if we’re really about healthcare, it would also be about if there’s a problem that was identified — it will be about removing barriers for helping this baby live well," Pierucci said. "Voting one off the island because there was a suspected diagnosis is just inconsistent to do no harm."

Pierucci raised concerns about the potential for inaccuracies in prenatal screening tests, which she said can mislead parents. She also pointed to advancements in medical technology that enable the survival of babies born as early as 22 weeks. The law, she believes, creates ethical dilemmas for medical professionals, particularly those who work to save premature infants.

"There’s something called the spectrum of disease, meaning I can’t tell usually from just a picture how much or how little the patient’s going to be affected," Pierucci explained. "This thing is going on frequently. It’s very disturbing that we’re making life and death decisions with so little information."

She highlighted that while prenatal screening tests are common, they often provide probabilistic results rather than definitive diagnoses, potentially leading parents to make irreversible choices without a full understanding of the implications. Pierucci also noted that routine screening can create an ethical conflict for doctors who strive to save premature infants, some of whom are born at the threshold of viability.

For fetuses diagnosed with severe or fatal conditions, Pierucci advocates for perinatal palliative care, a support system for families that focuses on infant comfort. She described this approach as compassionate and active, countering the notion that medical intervention is only valuable if a complete cure is possible.

"Even if we don’t have the ability to fully heal something… I always have an obligation to care," she stated.

Pierucci also voiced concerns about the law's impact on medical professionals with conscientious objections to abortion, suggesting it could lead to moral trauma. "When we have laws that fail to meet an ethical standard, we risk moral trauma to those who have a conscientious objection to this. This is not consistent with their value system."

Fundamentally, Pierucci opposes abortion regardless of gestational age, asserting that a baby's life has inherent value that does not fluctuate with the progression of pregnancy. "I don’t give it different value at different points in gestation," she said.

Healey's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Fox News Digital. The law is set to take effect in fewer than 90 days.