Telemedicine abortion to be outlawed

A measure that would make it a felony for a doctor to participate in a so-called telemedicine abortion in Nebraska won first-round approval on Tuesday from the legislature and appeared headed for certain enactment, reports the Nebraska State Paper.

Senator Tony Fulton of Lincoln, sponsor of the Bill, said it would help ensure the health and safety of women.

Senator Amanda McGill of Lincoln, an opponent of the Bill, scoffed. “This Bill doesn't do anything but force a woman to get in her car and drive,” she said.

The senators voted 34 to nine to advance the Bill to second-round debate, notes Journal Star.

Fulton said the Bill is necessary because the abortion industry is changing and Nebraska laws need to continue to ensure patient safety.

The Bill was not intended as a ban on RU-486, he said, which is an artificial steroid that blocks progesterone, a hormone needed to continue a pregnancy.

Supporters of the Bill have cited an increase in the number of chemically induced abortions in Iowa since the Web cam systems were put in place, writes The Republic.

McGill pointed to statistics that the show the overall number of Iowa abortions has dropped. Iowa established 16 remote sites throughout the state in 2008.

The process requires women to first undergo an examination and ultrasound by a health care professional - usually a nurse - before talking to a doctor through a Web cam.

The doctor then confirms that the woman wants to take the drug regiment and presses a button to dispense the drug at her location. Planned Parenthood of the Heartland established a programme in Iowa to serve women in rural areas.