(ONN) – Governor Mike DeWine has signed into law a controversial anti-abortion bill known as the ‘born alive’ bill.

Governor DeWine says it was his duty as governor to sign the bill into law.

“I’m pro-life. I think one of the essential functions of government is to protect the most vulnerable members of society. The unborn certainly come into that category,” the governor said.

The law imposes criminal penalties on doctors who fail to give medical care if a baby is alive following an abortion attempt.

Opponents say the provisions in the law could lead to two clinics in southwest Ohio shutting down.