LITTLE ROCK (KFSM)- The Arkansas House Committee on Public Health, Welfare and Labor has approved a proposed bill that would require a doctor to be present when women take abortion-inducing medication.
The committee voted Thursday (Jan. 29) to send the bill to the full House.
Rep. Julie Mayberry (R-Hensley) introduced House Bill 1076 to the Arkansas State Legislature on Jan. 15. The bill states, “When mifepristone or another drug or chemical is used to induce an abortion, the initial administration of the drug or chemical shall occur in the same room and in the physical presence of the physician who prescribed, dispensed or otherwise provided the drug or chemical to the patient.”
The drafted bill goes on to state it would require the patient to follow up with the doctor 12 to 18 days later to confirm the abortion has worked and to assess the patient’s medical condition.
A doctor violating the requirements of the bill would be stripped of their physician license, the proposed law states.
The bill goes on to state no penalty would be assessed against the woman seeking the abortion pill in the situation.
A version of the bill filed in the Senate by Sen. Missy Irvin (R- District 18) has been re-referred to the Senate Committee on Public Health, Welfare and Labor.
