Wisconsin Assembly Approves Bill Requiring Doctors To Determine That Women Seeking Abortions Not Coerced, Consent To Procedure

Main Category: Abortion
Article Date: 02 Nov 2007 - 8:00 PDT

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The Wisconsin Assembly on Tuesday voted 65-32 to approve a bill that will require doctors to determine that women seeking an abortion consent to the procedure and are not coerced into it, the AP/WKBT.com reports (AP/WKBT.com, 10/30).

Under current state law, doctors are required to get written consent before performing an abortion. Rep. Fred Kessler (D), who opposes the bill, said requiring a doctor to also ask a woman if she was not coerced just adds another barrier to an already difficult decision. He added that the bill is one additional pressure from antiabortion groups to persuade women not to have an abortion.

Rep. Mark Gundrum (R), sponsor of the measure, said doctors should have to make sure the procedure is the women's choice. Gundrum also said the legislation would allow physicians to provide women with assistance if they are being coerced into an abortion. The bill now heads to the Senate, WRN.com reports (Beckett, WRN.com, 10/31).

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