Pregnant women in the Crossroads seeking an abortion may encounter stricter guidelines from their doctors if a proposed bill is passed in the Texas Legislature.
Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, plans to introduce legislation that would require what some call more rigid protocols for physicians administering abortion-inducing drugs, such as mifepristone, known formerly as RU-486, to pregnant women.
Patrick's SB 97 would require, among other stipulations, that physicians be required to personally administer all doses of the medication to the pregnant women, even if they occur on multiple days.
The bill also requires physicians to examine the pregnant woman and chart the gestational age and intrauterine location of the pregnancy before administering the drug, as well as execute an emergency plan for unforeseen medical problems that may arise while the woman is on the medication.
Patrick's bill also requires the pregnant woman's doctor to schedule a follow-up visit within 14 days of administering the drug whereby the doctor must determine that the pregnancy is terminated. If any drug-related emergencies occur, the bill also requires physicians to report the events within three days to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or face possible disciplinary action through the Texas Medical Board.
