Gov. Deval Patrick is planning to sign a bill outlawing the practice of handcuffing women prisoners to hospital beds during childbirth in Massachusetts.The bill would create a uniform ban on restraining women during pregnancy, labor and delivery in state and county correctional facilities unless they present a specific safety or flight risk.

The bill also creates basic standards of prenatal and postpartum care to ensure safe, healthy outcomes for female prisoners and their newborns.

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