Arizona Lawmakers Vote For More Questions Before Abortion Procedures

By Holliday Moore
Howard Fischer
Published: Wednesday, April 11, 2018 - 10:45am
Updated: Wednesday, April 11, 2018 - 11:37am

Arizona House members, the majority of whom are men, have voted to force hospitals and clinics to ask women seeking an abortion more details before their procedure.

GOP leaders proposed they are protecting women by having medical professionals privately ask whether the abortion is elective or coerced, due to rape or incest, sex trafficking or domestic violence, or for health risks.

Following that explanation, Tucson Democrat Daniel Hernandez suggested adding two more questions: whether the woman had access to adequate health care, or comprehensive sex education.

"One of the things we know that is the most effective at making sure there are less unintended pregnancies and, by extension, less abortions, is making sure that women have adequate health care access including things like contraceptive services," he surmised.

Conservative House members argued sex education is not a health care issue, but a "pre-health care issue."

The bill passed along party lines Monday with 35 Republicans voting for it and 25 Democrats against it.