A legislative panel in the U.S. state of New Mexico has rejected a bill that would have required doctors to take care of babies who survive an abortion procedure.

In a 6-4 vote, the state's House health committee voted against H.B. 275, which was vehemently opposed by Democrats and state doctors, the Christian News Network reported.

The bill was introduced by Republican state Representatives Rod Montoya and Yvette Herrell. It sought to punish those who will be found guilty of killing a born alive infant with first degree felony and civil damages.

"A physician attempting to perform an abortion shall take all medically appropriate and reasonable steps to preserve the life and health of a born alive infant," the bill reads.

It added that "if an attempt to perform an abortion performed in a hospital results in a live birth, the physician attending shall provide immediate medical care to the infant, inform the mother of the live birth and request transfer of the infant to an on-duty resident or emergency care physician who shall provide medically appropriate and reasonable medical care and treatment to the infant."

The bill recognises that a born alive infant "shall be treated as a legal person under state law, with the same rights to medically appropriate and reasonable care and treatment."

It also prohibits the use of any born alive infant for any scientific research or experimentation except as necessary to protect or preserve the life and health of the born alive infant.

Democrat Rep. Deborah Armstrong said she's "very happy it went down."

"This bill is taken almost verbatim from a national organisation committed to outlawing abortion. It vilifies doctors and scares everyone away from access to care," she told Sante Fe New Mexican.

One resident testified that she knew of an abortionist who stabbed a baby after it survived the abortion procedure.

"This legislation supplements the federal Infant Born Alive Protection Act and ensures these babies receive the same proper care as any newborn," Montoya explained. "How can we expect any industry, like the abortion industry, to self-report against their own perceived self-interest?"

An investigation by the New Mexico Alliance for Life into the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center showed that while the centre acknowledged that some babies survive abortion, there is no guidelines on how to take care of them.