Senate Panel Passes Additional Abortion Regulations
The Senate Health and Human Services Committee approved a bill 5-0 mandating that doctors who perform abortions maintain admitting privileges at a nearby hospital.
Supporters said the bill would improve care for women and assure they could get help if they suffered complications.
But opponents said the bill only places unnecessary obstacles for doctors willing to perform abortions.
In addition, the Texas Hospital Association testified against the bill, saying the measure would subject hospitals to needless time and expense screening doctors who rarely, if ever, would need to admit patients into their facility.
“A hospital should not be required to assume responsibility for the qualifications of a doctor that does not practice in the hospital,” said Stacy Wilson, associate general counsel for the association.