Kansas House Approves New Restrictions On Abortion

Main Category: Abortion
Article Date: 06 Mar 2009 - 4:00 PDT

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The Kansas House on Wednesday approved two bills that would impose new restrictions on providers performing so-called "late-term" abortions, the AP/Wichita Eagle reports. One bill (H.B. 2206), approved 82-40, would require physicians to provide health officials with detailed medical reasons for performing abortions late in pregnancy (AP/Wichita Eagle, 3/5). The bill, sponsored by state Rep. Lance Kinzer (R), also would require that the physician provide the patient with a written statement of the medical reason for the abortion at least 30 minutes prior to the procedure, except in a medical emergency (Associated Press, 3/4). The bill is designed to amend a current law that requires doctors to simply state that the pregnancy could cause "substantial and irreversible" harm to a "major bodily function" (AP/Wichita Eagle, 3/5).

The Associated Press reports that the bill is similar to a measure Kinzer sponsored in 2008. Kinzer said that the new bill does not include two sections that Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D), who supports abortion rights, cited as reasons for vetoing the bill. One of these provisions would have allowed individuals to get a court order to stop an abortion, while the other granted county prosecutors access to health department records, according to the Associated Press. Sebelius -- who has been nominated to serve as HHS secretary -- has "repeatedly" vetoed antiabortion legislation, the Associated Press reports. If confirmed, she would be replaced by Lt. Gov. Mark Parkinson, who also supports abortion rights.

In addition to requiring more detailed information in abortion records, the new bill would require a doctor to inform a woman seeking an abortion that the procedure would "terminate the life of a whole, separate, unique, living human being." The bill also allows former patients or patients' families to sue doctors for monetary damages if they allege that an abortion was performed unlawfully (Associated Press, 3/4). Additionally, the bill would require the State Board of Healing Arts to revoke a doctor's license after one violation of the abortion law, unless two-thirds of the board decides otherwise. According to the AP/Eagle, the board currently can revoke a doctor's license only after at least two offenses (AP/Wichita Eagle, 3/5).

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that the "central target of the legislation" is Kansas abortion provider George Tiller, who has been accused by antiabortion-rights groups of performing illegal abortions (Carpenter, Topeka Capital-Journal, 3/4). According to the AP/Eagle, Tiller is scheduled to go to trial later this month on 19 misdemeanor charges relating to post-viability abortions.

Second Antiabortion Bill Approved by House

The House approved a second abortion-related bill by a vote of 85-37. The bill would require that women be offered a chance to view ultrasound images and listen to audio of fetal heartbeats at least 30 minutes prior to an abortion.

Abortion-rights supporters said both measures are attempts to restrict access to abortion (AP/Wichita Eagle, 3/4). Peter Brownlee, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri, said the bills are unwarranted and would "do nothing to prevent unintended pregnancies or reduce the number of abortions in Kansas" (Topeka Capital-Journal, 3/4).

Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.nationalpartnership.org. You can view the entire Daily Women's Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery here. The Daily Women's Health Policy Report is a free service of the National Partnership for Women & Families, published by The Advisory Board Company.

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