A Missouri Senate Committee has passed legislation that puts restrictions on the use of abortion-inducing drugs.
The bill would require the prescribing doctor to be physically present whenever a patient takes RU-486 or any other medication designed to terminate a pregnancy. Supporters say it’s designed to prevent so-called “web-cam abortions,” in which a doctor at another location instructs the patient on taking the medicine.
Susan Klein of Missouri Right to Life testified in favor of the bill before the vote.
“Webcam abortions began in Iowa…they went from five abortion clinics to 17…this is a proactive bill to keep that from happening here in the state of Missouri,” Klein said.
Michelle Trupiano with Planned Parenthood spoke against the bill, saying the procedures being used are safe.
“The proponents of this bill do not like access to abortion services, so let’s not kid ourselves and say that this is about safety and about women’s health, because we know it’s not about safety – it’s about doing everything that they can to restrict access to abortion services,” Trupiano said.
The bill passed the Senate Judiciary Committee on a strictly party-line vote. The full Senate has less than three weeks to decide whether to take up the bill for debate and either send it to the Governor or make changes to it and send it back to the House.
Follow Marshall Griffin on Twitter: @MarshallGReport
