Ga. House passes bill restricting abortion to limit fetal pain

Mar 2 2012

The legislation would cut six weeks from the time women can have an elective abortion, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Georgia House Passes 'Fetal Pain' Abortion Bill
The state House, after emotional debate, passed a bill Wednesday that would cut six weeks from the time women can have elective abortion. The legislation, House Bill 954, also would tighten medical exemptions for terminating pregnancies and require any abortion performed after 20 weeks of pregnancy be done in a way to bring the fetus out alive. The measure is commonly referred to as a "fetal pain" bill and says that a fetus can feel pain at 20 weeks, therefore the state has an interest in protecting it (Quinn, 2/29).

Meanwhile, in Pennsylvania, lawmakers have put the brakes on a bill to require an ultrasound before an abortion.

The Associated Press/Philadelphia Inquirer: No Vote Set On Bill For Ultrasound
The Republican leader in the Pennsylvania House says he doesn't plan to schedule a vote on a bill to mandate ultrasounds for women seeking abortions while members address questions that have arisen about it. A spokesman for Majority Leader Mike Turzai told the Associated Press on Wednesday that concerns about the bill in the medical community would also be fully vetted before the bill would be advanced. Sponsors of the Pennsylvania bill say it would require an ultrasound, but a woman wouldn't have to look at the printout. It would also require that all questions about the fetus' health and gestational age be answered completely. Opponents say the bill would subject many women to ultrasounds with a vaginal probe (Scolforo, 3/1).