The State Senate discussed a bill Tuesday that would redefine informed consent for abortion and apply restrictions to the administration of abortion-inducing drugs.
The bill would require a physician to speak privately with a woman who intends to have an abortion and confirm that her consent is in fact voluntary and not coerced. If coercion is suspected, the physician must direct the woman to appropriate support services.
"[Senate Bill 306] will ensure women undergoing this life-changing procedure do so at their own will and with their eyes open," Sen. Mary Lazich, R-New Berlin, said in a statement.
Currently, informed consent only requires that a woman is supplied with certain information and materials provided by the Department of Health Services. This bill would require the physician to inform the woman that she has the right to refuse or consent to an abortion and that it is illegal to perform the abortion if she has been coerced or has not given voluntary consent.
The administration of an abortion-inducing drug would only be permitted if a doctor is present and performs a physical exam. Failure to comply would result in a felony charge for the physician.
Groups like NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin and Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin have criticized the bill for politicizing women's health care to further a social agenda rather than making women's care more accessible.
"This attack on women's health care is nothing more than an unnecessary and overreaching attempt by anti-choice legislators to chip away at access to abortion," NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin Executive Director Lisa Subeck said in a statement.
Senate Democrats blocked a third reading of the bill Tuesday, effectively denying a vote in the day's session.
