Tom Loftus

Louisville Courier Journal

FRANKFORT, Ky. - A Senate committee on Thursday approved a bill requiring that doctors perform an ultrasound and describe the image to women who are seeking an abortion.

The approval came on a day when abortion opponents crowded the Capitol rotunda to celebrate their momentum during the 2016 legislative session and watch Gov. Matt Bevin ceremonially sign into law an "informed consent" bill that passed recently.

The ultrasound bill, Senate Bill 152, breezed through the Senate Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Protection Committee on an 11-1 vote and now heads to the Senate floor where it has passed before and is all-but-certain to do so again. Previous versions of the bill have been blocked in the House.

The sponsor, Sen. Whitney Westerfield, R-Hopkinsville, said the bill would require an ultrasound be shown to a woman seeking an abortion. The bill would not require the woman to watch the image but would require the doctor to explain what the image shows.

Bevin mocked in 'vagina' social media storm

Any doctor who would violate this law would be fined $100,000 for the first offense and $250,000 for subsequent offenses.

But Dr. Sarah Wallett, a Lexington obstetrician/gynecologist, told the committee the bill would interfere with the doctor-patient relationship and disregard a women's feelings about the medical care she receives.

Wallett said it was not her job to talk a woman who has decided to have an abortion out of that decision. "It is my job to provide her medically-accurate, appropriate and evidence-based information about her decision and to respect her decision and her personal values within the context of our relationship as doctor and patient."

Derek Selznick, the Reproductive Freedom Project Director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky, said an identical bill from North Carolina was struck down by federal courts last year and that ruling was allowed to stand by the U.S. Supreme Court.

"This is not informed consent, this is about politicians trying to bully, shame and humiliate women who have already made their personal and often heart-wrenching decision to end their pregnancy," Selznick said.

Bevin mocked in 'vagina' social media storm

Bill to protect Kim Davis passed by committee

But Westerfield bristled at the suggestion of a political motive behind the bill. "As important as the doctor-patient relationship is, and it is, it's not as important as a life..." Westerfield said. "This is about giving that mother all the opportunities she can have to make the decision. This isn't about shaming."

The only senator voting against the bill was Perry Clark, D-Louisville.

Karen Sypher denied release to halfway house

Later Thursday morning, Bevin told a huge crowd at a Right to Life rally in the rotunda, "This is a big day, an important day, a day many have fought for a long, long time - to see meaningful, pro-life legislation come out of this legislature and be signed into law."

Bevin was referring to the bill passed Feb. 1 that will require women to receive face-to-face medical consultation - either in person or through live video conferencing - 24 hours before having an abortion.

Bevin said it was the first bill sought by abortion opponents in 12 years that overcame opposition in the Kentucky House and see passage into law.

Reporter Tom Loftus can be reached at (502) 875-5136 or tloftus@courier-journal.com.

Google Fiber measure passed over objections