The Assembly Committee on Health held a hearing today to discuss a proposed piece of legislation that would make the circumstances in which abortions can be administered more strict.
Rep. Michelle Litjens, R-Oshkosh, one of the legislators who introduced the bill, said at Wednesday’s hearing the reforms would “strengthen current law language.”
“These are common sense reforms that protect the physician and the mental health of a woman seeking an abortion,” Litjens said.
The bill clarifies the definition of voluntary consent, restricts the administration of abortion-inducing drugs, and repeals certain statues under which a woman may be fined or imprisoned after receiving an abortion.
The proposed legislation requires a physician to meet privately with a woman 24 hours before a planned abortion to confirm that her consent is in fact voluntary and that she has not been coerced. If a physician suspects coercion, he/she would be obligated to provide information about appropriate services.
Also, a physician must be physically present and perform an exam in order to administer an abortion-inducing drug. Failure to do so would result in a class one-felony charge for the physician.
Currently, there is no law prohibiting physicians from administering abortions over telecommunication.
