A bill that would require pregnant women in Wyoming to have an ultrasound before taking abortion-inducing medication passed the state House on third reading Thursday.
Lawmakers voted to support House Bill 64 48-13. It now moves on to the Senate for consideration.
If passed, the bill would require all women in Wyoming who get abortion pills to have an ultrasound no less than 48 hours beforehand. The bill would have no impact on surgical abortions.
Because abortion is still legal in Wyoming, sponsor House Speaker Chip Neiman, R-Hulett, who is staunchly pro-life, sees his “compassionate” bill as managing the practice better by determining the gestational age of the unborn fetus.
“So, we can determine whether or not the amount of chemical is being incorrectly administered,” he said. “It’s going to make it quicker for the child for the life to be ended and it’s going to be safer for the mother that’s taking these chemicals.”
Optional Use Rejected
Rep. Elissa Campbell, R-Casper, unsuccessfully brought an amendment that would have made offering the ultrasounds required, but accepting them optional.
Many ultrasounds women undergo before they reach 10-12 weeks of gestation are transvaginal, which involves inserting the top of a long, thin device coated in a sheath and gel into the vagina.
Critics of HB 64 have argued this requirement is being implemented to shame women to make them less likely to go through with taking the abortion pill.
“How do we prevent undue harm for these women and unborn with the use of these chemicals?” Campbell questioned. “How do we ensure that it is done properly and not inflict harm?
Campbell said she understands the purpose of the bill but wants to prevent undue harm to pregnant mothers and restricting their rights through a government mandate.
Neiman opposed the amendment, which he saw as undermining the purpose of the bill, which is determining the gestational age of a baby about to be aborted.
“We need this, I believe, because this (mifepristone) is being taken without medical supervision,” he said. “If a drug is designed to do a specific thing at a specific time, then how do we determine that without this method?”
Required Ultrasounds
One of the main reasons Campbell brought her amendment was to address the fact that there are other ways to determine gestational age than through a transvaginal ultrasound, which Campbell still wants made available to women taking these pills and to the abortion providers prescribing them.
“What we’re doing is forcing these individuals into one option,” she said. “We’re taking away the other options available to them.”
Her amendment also contained exceptions for when abortion pills are taken to save the life of the mother, ameliorate a serious risk of causing the pregnant woman substantial injury, preserving the the health of an unborn child, removing a dead unborn child or removing an ectopic pregnancy.
Mifepristone, the most common abortion pill, directs women who take it to go back to their doctor for an exam or ultrasound seven to 14 days after taking it to confirm that the pregnancy has ended and to check the amount of bleeding.
Neiman also said ultrasounds were initially required when mifepristone was legalized in 2000.
He argued the requirements his bill mandates provide rights for both mothers and those who don’t currently have them, the latter in reference to unborn babies.
“It is providing an opportunity for protection for those that decide to choose this path,” he said.
Also Thursday, the House passed by a 52-8 vote a bill regulating surgical abortion centers in Wyoming.
A different bill requiring testing of Wyoming water supplies for the presence of abortion drugs passed a House committee last week but hasn’t been considered in the chamber yet.
Leo Wolfson can be reached at leo@cowboystatedaily.com.