Members of the Tennessee Medical Association proposed a resolution for the annual meeting of the group condemning any “fetal personhood” laws observing the humanity of preborn children.

Delegates to the meeting next week will consider a resolution saying that the concept of “fetal personhood,” defined as efforts to offer children in the form of a fetus, embryo, or fertilized egg “the same rights and legal protections as a born individual,” could lead to the “criminalization of pregnancy outcomes,” seemingly the intentional destruction of a preborn child before birth.

The resolution would have the Tennessee Medical Association conclude that “attempts to confer personhood to a fertilized egg, embryo, or fetus can put physicians at risk of punishment for practicing evidence-based, comprehensive medicine” and “endanger the pregnant patient.”

One of the clauses for the resolution also said “establishing fetal and embryonic personhood can impact access to contraception and assisted reproductive technologies” such as IVF. The document also uses the term “pregnant people” rather than “pregnant women” or “mothers.”

Shawn Graham, the managing director for the Conservative Christians of Tennessee, reacted to the proposed resolution in remarks to The Sentinel by noting that Christians have not sufficiently expected their elected officials to affirm biblical sexual ethics, especially on the sanctity of life.

“The fact that so-called medical professionals in Tennessee are willing to distort our language in an attempt to promote more child murder is an indisputable sign that Tennessee is no longer a biblically-minded red state,” Graham said. “Our liberal-minded professional class is working hand in glove with our state leaders to promote an evil worldview where life is not valued.”