Sonogram bill moving to Senate floor

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Clarifying the intent of his "sonogram" bill likely helped give Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, what he needed to convince the Texas Senate State Affairs Committee for approval Wednesday evening. In the days before the 7-1 vote, much confusion revolved around the measure related to what happens before a woman has an abortion.

Patrick, Senate Bill 16's author, tweaked the language and offered a substitute during the committee hearing Wednesday morning. He said media and lawmakers misunderstood what the bill would do.

The original version of the bill contained wording that allowed a woman to "avert her eyes" during a sonogram. The substitute amended that to give the option for a patient to refuse seeing and hearing the sonogram entirely.

"The bill will provide a high level of informed consent," Patrick said. "It will ensure there are no barriers preventing women from receiving the information to which they are entitled for such a life-changing decision."

Several opponents who offered testimony, including a handful of doctors, said the bill creates too much government intrusion in the relationship between a doctor and a patient. Supporters said women need more information before receiving an abortion in order to make an informed decision.

The doctor would be "required to perform the sonogram, explain it as he is doing the sonogram so that she has an informed consent as to what is happening," Patrick said during the hearing.

At least 24 hours before performing an abortion, doctors would have to detail to patients what is seen in the sonogram, verbalizing organ, limb, and other fetal developments even if the woman chose not to see it. Additionally, doctors would have to offer patients the opportunity to see the sonogram and hear the fetus' heartbeat.

"Forcing couples and families to listen to this sort of thing is traumatic," said Brenda Sendejo, a witness who testified about having an abortion after discovering her fetus was terminally ill. Critics have said the bill would inflict undue emotional harm to the mother.

The only exceptions in the bill allowing a patient to opt out of all doctor requirements are for victims of sexual assault, incest, and women carrying a fetus with abnormalities.

The bill would also require doctors to tell the patient about the options available before having the procedure. This would include new mother services, adoption agencies, and child support information.

Patrick said the bill was not about lowering the number of abortions in Texas, but he would welcome such an added result. Supporters of the bill said some doctors do not currently give women the chance to see a sonogram before performing the abortion.

Gov. Rick Perry named the sonogram issue an emergency item late last month, putting the bill on the fast track able to considered by lawmakers in the first 60 days of the session.

Patrick introduced a similar bill in 2009, but it failed to become law. The entire Senate could likely hear this bill as early as next week. After that, it would have to gain approval from the House.