Legislature OKs new restrictions on abortions
Posted: 12.14.2012 at 11:33 AM
Photo

LANSING (AP) -- New regulations on abortions have won approval of the state Legislature.

The House approved the bill Friday on a 72-35 vote after it previously cleared the Senate. It now goes to Gov. Rick Snyder for his expected signature.

Among the provisions is a requirement that private medical offices be licensed as freestanding surgical outpatient facilities and undergo annual state inspections if they perform at least 120 abortions a year.

The measure also deals with disposal of fetal remains and requires that a doctor perform a physical examination before prescribing drugs that would cause an abortion. It prohibits the use of telemedicine, or a web-based camera for that exam.

Numerous Democratic amendments were voted down, including a proposal that men have exams before receiving a vasectomy or erectile dysfunction medication.

(Copyright ©2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Related Links