Log In | Become a Member

Senate Anti-abortion Bill Targets Clinic Ownership

February 23, 2012 | WMFE - A new anti-abortion bill in the Florida Senate comes with a waiting period, new training requirements for doctors and a complete prohibition after fetus "viability." Planned Parenthood and other opponents say a clinic ownership provision is the bill's worst feature.

Play Audio Story  

 
Sponsored by Republican Senator Anitere Flores of Miami, the bill prohibits abortion after fetus viability with only narrow exceptions. Doctors who perform abortions would have to get special ethics training.
Each procedure would also require a 13 page report to the state and the report would be posted on the Internet although, Flores says, without identifying information.
The measure would also bar anyone but doctors from owning abortion clinics. But Staci Fox of North Florida Planned Parenthood said non-profit health centers like Planned Parenthood are operated by boards and not by physician.
“The reality of this bill is to shut down women's access to abortion.” Fox said.
But Flores, the bill’s sponsor, said the purpose of the bill is to protect women from medical complications and emotional trauma.

The Senate Health Regulation Committee passed the bill 5 to 2. There was one Republican among the dissenters, Senator Dennis Jones of Seminole.
“It seems like it creates a tremendous amount of additional government regulation.” Jones said. Also voting no was the committee's only Democrat and only woman, Senator Eleanor Sobel of Hollywood
 

   

 

All active news articles