By Donnelly Clare

Women would be required to view their unborn child’s ultrasound prior to getting an abortion, under a new bill approved by a state committee Monday.

The Senate Health and Human Services Committee passed the measure along party lines 3-2.

The bill would require physicians to either provide or arrange an ultrasound for women seeking abortions.  Doctors would have to show the ultrasound image to the woman and provide a thorough description of the fetus’ features.  The legislation was sponsored by Republican Sen. Mary Lazich of New Berlin.

Cases of medical emergency or when pregnancy was the result of sexual assault or incest would be exempt from the requirement.

Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin decried the move, claiming the change would force a Planned Parenthood abortion clinic in Appleton- one of four in the state- to close.

Teri Huyck, president of Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, called the admittance requirement “a tactic to end abortion access.”

Huyck added the bill “is just one part of a concerted effort underway to limit women’s access to everything from insurance coverage to birth control and abortion,”

Huyck also said the bill was being fast-tracked through the state legislature “at the urging of special-interest groups who are opposed to women’s access to birth control and abortion.”

Supporters of the bill say it will help reduce the number of abortions and provide medically accurate information to pregnant women considering an abortion.

Lazich said ultrasounds are common medical procedures and would give women more complete information about their pregnancy.

The measure is scheduled for a debate in the full Senate on Tuesday.