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House panel OKs bill on ultrasound before abortion

News

March 4th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A House panel has approved a bill that would require a physician to offer an ultrasound image to a woman seeking an abortion in Iowa. Members of a human resources subcommittee approved the bill Wednesday. It heads to a full committee for consideration, where it will need to advance by Friday to beat a procedural deadline in the Legislature.

The bill would require a physician to perform an ultrasound on a woman and give her an opportunity to view an image of the fetus. The woman would be given the option of hearing a description of the ultrasound image and the potential heartbeat of the fetus. Physicians could face jail time and fines if they didn’t comply. It’s unlikely the bill will advance in the Democratic-controlled Senate.