US Code
CHAPTER 1— RULES OF CONSTRUCTION
§ 8. “Person”, “human being”, “child”, and “individual” as including born-alive infant

(a)
In determining the meaning of any Act of Congress, or of any ruling, regulation, or
interpretation of the various administrative bureaus and agencies of the United States, the
words “person”, “human being”, “child”, and “individual”, shall include every infant member
of the species homo sapiens who is born alive at any stage of development.
(b)
As used in this section, the term “born alive”, with respect to a member of the species
homo sapiens, means the complete expulsion or extraction from his or her mother of that
member, at any stage of development, who after such expulsion or extraction breathes or has
a beating heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord, or definite movement of voluntary muscles,
regardless of whether the umbilical cord has been cut, and regardless of whether the
expulsion or extraction occurs as a result of natural or induced labor, cesarean section, or
induced abortion.
(c)
Nothing in this section shall be construed to affirm, deny, expand, or contract any
legal status or legal right applicable to any member of the species homo sapiens at any
point prior to being “born alive” as defined in this section.

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