SB 623

Under current law, a woman upon whom an abortion is to be performed or

induced must give voluntary and informed written consent to the abortion. Under

current law, with certain exceptions, a woman's consent to an abortion is considered

informed only if, at least 24 hours before the abortion is performed or induced, the

physician or an assistant has, in person, orally provided the woman with certain

information and given to the woman certain written materials. Before the

enactment of

2013 Wisconsin Act 37

, the information required to be orally provided

by the physician performing or inducing the abortion or another qualified physician

to the woman included that fetal ultrasound imaging and auscultation of fetal heart

tone services are available and how to obtain ultrasound imaging and auscultation

services if she desires to do so. In

2013 Wisconsin Act 37

, this requirement to provide

information about obtaining fetal ultrasound imaging and auscultation services was

eliminated. This bill reinstates the requirement to provide information on fetal

ultrasound imaging and auscultation services as it was before enactment of

2013

Wisconsin Act 37

.

Current law requires, except in a medical emergency and except in the situation

where the pregnancy is the result of sexual assault, that before a person may perform

or induce an abortion the physician who is to perform or induce the abortion or any

physician requested by the pregnant woman must do all of the following or shall

arrange for a person who is qualified to perform an ultrasound to do all of the

following: perform an ultrasound on the pregnant woman using whichever

transducer the woman chooses; provide a simultaneous oral explanation during the

ultrasound; display the ultrasound images so that the pregnant woman may view

them; provide a medical description of the ultrasound images; and provide a means

for the pregnant woman to visualize any fetal heartbeat, if detectable by the chosen

ultrasound transducer type, and a simultaneous oral explanation of the visual

display of the heartbeat (ultrasound requirements). Current law requires that, as

part of the information a physician must provide a pregnant woman at least 24 hours

before an abortion is performed or induced, the physician must tell the pregnant

woman that she is required to obtain an ultrasound and must provide her a list of

facilities that provide ultrasounds at no cost. This bill eliminates all of the

ultrasound requirements and the requirement that the pregnant woman be told she

is required to have an ultrasound performed before obtaining an abortion.

Current law prohibits a physician from performing an abortion unless he or she