W.Va. House Panel Approves Bill Requiring Information About Ultrasounds Before Abortions

March 10, 2010 — The West Virginia House Health and Human Resources Committee on Monday voted 16-9 to approve a bill (HB 4517) that would require physicians to give women the opportunity to view an ultrasound image at least one hour before performing an abortion, the Charleston Gazette reports. According to the Gazette, the rule would only apply to cases where ultrasound technology already is being used. The Senate passed the bill last week (Knezevich, Charleston Gazette, 3/8). The bill now proceeds to the House Judiciary Committee (AP/Charleston Gazette, 3/8).

Under current state law, abortion providers are required to offer patients information on pregnancy, prenatal care, risks of abortion, alternatives to the procedure and other topics (Charleston Gazette, 3/8). In most cases, providers are permitted to provide that information by telephone (Bill text, 2/16). The committee rejected an amendment by state Rep. Barbara Fleischauer (D) that would have eliminated the requirement for physicians to tell patients about the availability of ultrasounds and added the information to the current list of disclosures. The committee also rejected an amendment that would have allowed physicians to retain their licenses if they failed to meet the bill's requirements (Charleston Gazette, 3/8).