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Kansas bill would require health care providers to ask women why they want an abortion

Topeka, Kansas — Kansas would require abortion providers to ask patients why they are terminating a pregnancy and report their answers to the state under a bill passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature. Frustrated Democratic lawmakers have pointedly proposed applying similar rules to vasectomies and erectile dysfunction.

The state Legislature was scheduled to take a final vote Thursday. The bill would require health care providers to tell patients why they are terminating a pregnancy, such as not being able to afford another child, having a child would interfere with their education or career, or their spouse or partner wanting an abortion. Requires you to ask 11 questions. At least seven states require similar reporting.

kansas abortion
Kansas House Health and Human Services Committee Chairwoman Brenda Landwehr, R-Wichita, left, and Majority Whip Susan Estes, right, also a Republican, during a House meeting at the State Capitol in Topeka on March 6, 2024. Wichita). Landwehr and other anti-abortion lawmakers are pushing a bill that would require health care providers to ask patients why they are having an abortion and report their answers to the state.

John Hanna/Associated Press


Supporters of the bill argued during Wednesday’s House debate that the state needs the data so lawmakers can create programs to address concerns. Opponents saw attempts to harass abortion providers, shame and stigmatize patients. abortion.

If approved by the House, the bill will be sent to the Senate. Both chambers have anti-abortion majorities, and Republicans last year overrode a veto of other restrictions on health care providers by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly, a strong supporter of abortion rights.

Democrats are frustrated as Republicans and anti-abortion groups push for new rules for abortion providers and aid for anti-abortion counseling centers. Decisive statewide vote in August 2022 Protecting the right to abortion under the state constitution.

“Honestly, I don’t understand it, because I think Kansas State has made it very clear how they want to operate in this area,” Kelly told The Associated Press in a brief interview. “Why would an elected official with an election coming up in November go against the will of the voters?”

Democrats fight back

Unable to stop this bill from passing, and likely becoming law, Democrats, especially female members, have argued that it is unfair to ask women detailed questions about their motivations for receiving health care when men do not. Criticized that there is. Democrats started with vasectomies.

Afterward, Kansas City-area Democratic Rep. Stephanie Sawyer Clayton said erectile dysfunction is a “scourge” that is reducing the state’s birth rate. She suggested requiring doctors to ask male patients whether they want the treatment because her spouse wants it or because it would cause stress or embarrassment to the man.

“If one group is subjected to humiliating questions when receiving legitimate medical care, then all groups should be subject to humiliating questions when obtaining legitimate medical care,” she said. . “Or you can vote against this bill.”

Republicans argued that when doctors seek treatment for patients, they often ask questions about their mental health and whether there are guns in the home.

“This is about abortion reporting. It has nothing to do with male body parts,” said House Health Committee Chairwoman Brenda Landwehr (R-Wichita).

Kansas already requires doctors who perform abortions to report the patient’s age and ethnicity, whether they are married, and the method used to terminate the pregnancy.

The state allows abortions for almost any reason up to the 22nd week of pregnancy, and the bill would not change that.

Similar laws elsewhere

States that require doctors to report the reason for an abortion include Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Utah. The Democratic-controlled Minnesota Legislature abolished similar reporting requirements last year.

The law in Oklahoma, where most abortions are prohibited, includes a list of more than 30 questions that health care providers must ask patients about their motives for abortion. Potential reasons include relationship problems or not feeling mature enough to raise a child.

“All parties on both sides of this issue need to agree on the need for better reporting,” said Tessa Longbonds Cox, a senior fellow at the anti-abortion group Charlotte Rozier Institute.

However, other states with such reporting laws, such as Kansas, have not held statewide votes on protections for abortion rights. In pushing their anti-abortion agenda, Republican lawmakers said the new rules do not contradict voters’ desire to maintain some level of access to abortion.

“This bill has nothing to do with ending abortion in Kansas, it doesn’t ban it, it doesn’t even mention that at all,” Landwehr said. “I respected that vote.”

Summarize this content to 100 words Topeka, Kansas — Kansas would require abortion providers to ask patients why they are terminating a pregnancy and report their answers to the state under a bill passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature. Frustrated Democratic lawmakers have pointedly proposed applying similar rules to vasectomies and erectile dysfunction.The state Legislature was scheduled to take a final vote Thursday. The bill would require health care providers to tell patients why they are terminating a pregnancy, such as not being able to afford another child, having a child would interfere with their education or career, or their spouse or partner wanting an abortion. Requires you to ask 11 questions. At least seven states require similar reporting.

Kansas House Health and Human Services Committee Chairwoman Brenda Landwehr, R-Wichita, left, and Majority Whip Susan Estes, right, also a Republican, during a House meeting at the State Capitol in Topeka on March 6, 2024. Wichita). Landwehr and other anti-abortion lawmakers are pushing a bill that would require health care providers to ask patients why they are having an abortion and report their answers to the state.

John Hanna/Associated Press

Supporters of the bill argued during Wednesday’s House debate that the state needs the data so lawmakers can create programs to address concerns. Opponents saw attempts to harass abortion providers, shame and stigmatize patients. abortion.

If approved by the House, the bill will be sent to the Senate. Both chambers have anti-abortion majorities, and Republicans last year overrode a veto of other restrictions on health care providers by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly, a strong supporter of abortion rights. Democrats are frustrated as Republicans and anti-abortion groups push for new rules for abortion providers and aid for anti-abortion counseling centers. Decisive statewide vote in August 2022 Protecting the right to abortion under the state constitution.

“Honestly, I don’t understand it, because I think Kansas State has made it very clear how they want to operate in this area,” Kelly told The Associated Press in a brief interview. “Why would an elected official with an election coming up in November go against the will of the voters?”Democrats fight back Unable to stop this bill from passing, and likely becoming law, Democrats, especially female members, have argued that it is unfair to ask women detailed questions about their motivations for receiving health care when men do not. Criticized that there is. Democrats started with vasectomies. Afterward, Kansas City-area Democratic Rep. Stephanie Sawyer Clayton said erectile dysfunction is a “scourge” that is reducing the state’s birth rate. She suggested requiring doctors to ask male patients whether they want the treatment because her spouse wants it or because it would cause stress or embarrassment to the man. “If one group is subjected to humiliating questions when receiving legitimate medical care, then all groups should be subject to humiliating questions when obtaining legitimate medical care,” she said. . “Or you can vote against this bill.”

Republicans argued that when doctors seek treatment for patients, they often ask questions about their mental health and whether there are guns in the home. “This is about abortion reporting. It has nothing to do with male body parts,” said House Health Committee Chairwoman Brenda Landwehr (R-Wichita). Kansas already requires doctors who perform abortions to report the patient’s age and ethnicity, whether they are married, and the method used to terminate the pregnancy. The state allows abortions for almost any reason up to the 22nd week of pregnancy, and the bill would not change that.Similar laws elsewhere States that require doctors to report the reason for an abortion include Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Utah. The Democratic-controlled Minnesota Legislature abolished similar reporting requirements last year. The law in Oklahoma, where most abortions are prohibited, includes a list of more than 30 questions that health care providers must ask patients about their motives for abortion. Potential reasons include relationship problems or not feeling mature enough to raise a child. “All parties on both sides of this issue need to agree on the need for better reporting,” said Tessa Longbonds Cox, a senior fellow at the anti-abortion group Charlotte Rozier Institute.

However, other states with such reporting laws, such as Kansas, have not held statewide votes on protections for abortion rights. In pushing their anti-abortion agenda, Republican lawmakers said the new rules do not contradict voters’ desire to maintain some level of access to abortion. “This bill has nothing to do with ending abortion in Kansas, it doesn’t ban it, it doesn’t even mention that at all,” Landwehr said. “I respected that vote.”

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https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kansas-abortion-bill-providers-ask-women-why/ Kansas bill would require health care providers to ask women why they want an abortion

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