Bill On Abortion Ultrasound Requirement Is Back

Catherine Dolinski

Mar. 19, 2009 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- TALLAHASSEE -- Lawmakers are plunging back into the contentious debate over whether the state should compel ultrasounds for women seeking abortions.

The bill, which comes this year from Rep. Anitere Flores and Sen. Andy Gardiner, sparked some of the most emotional discussion of the 2008 legislative session, ultimately passing the House but falling short in the Senate.

This year's bill closely resembles last year's version and would require abortion clinics to perform ultrasounds for women seeking an abortion in the first trimester. Abortion doctors would have to show and explain the ultrasound to the women unless they signed a form declining the option.

Florida requires doctors who terminate pregnancies in the second trimester to do an ultrasound, but they do not have to review them with the patient.

"This is just not a right or a Republican or Democrat issue, but it's a life issue," said Rep. Rachel Burgin, R-Brandon, a co-sponsor of the bill who appeared with Flores, R-Miami, before a House health care panel on Wednesday.

"It's a woman's right to understand all the ramifications of what is taking place to her, for that moment and 30 years down the road," said Burgin, a freshman House member who was a legislative aide to former Rep. Trey Traviesa when the Tampa Republican sponsored the bill in 2008.

The bill has several exceptions, including if women can prove they have a medical condition necessitating the abortion or their pregnancy resulted from rape, incest, domestic violence or human trafficking.

That doesn't satisfy the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence, which told members of a House health care panel that a majority of rape and incest victims do not report the crime to authorities.

"There's no area of a victim's life that is not affected by rape," said Terri Poore, representing the coalition. "We owe it to her not to add any additional hurdles."

Jenna Cawley of Planned Parenthood of Greater Orlando told House members the American Medical Association opposes legislation "to impose any type of medical procedure that a doctor doesn't deem medically necessary."

Sherri Daume of Tallahassee, who volunteers at a pregnancy crisis center, said she wishes she had been given more information about the two fetuses she chose to abort before she was 20.

"Because I was not given an ultrasound and no one explained to me what my baby looked like, I did not make an informed choice."

The House bill passed the committee 5 to 2 and has two hearings left in the House. It has yet to receive a hearing in the Senate.

Reporter Catherine Dolinski can be reached at (850) 222-8382.

Newstex ID: KRTB-0201-33185630