The day he was sworn in as speaker of the Missouri House, Jon Patterson declared that defining fetal viability could be a difficult task. A surgeon serving his fourth term in the legislature, ...

Missouri abortion rights supporters hold a celebratory press conference outside the state Capitol after the Missouri Supreme Court ruled that Amendment 3 can remain on the ballot. Kacen Bayless ...

Fetal viability refers to how soon a fetus can be born and survive outside of its mother's womb. Fetal viability is typically set at 23 weeks of gestation but varies depending on certain factors.

House Speaker Jon Patterson delivers his opening day speech Wednesday to the Missouri House (Tim Bommel/Missouri House Communications). The day he was sworn in as speaker of the Missouri House, Jon ...