By Howard Fischer
CAPITOL MEDIA SERVICES
PHOENIX - Women who want to terminate pregnancies would have to wait at least 24 hours after first consulting a doctor under the terms of legislation given preliminary approval Wednesday by the House of Representatives.
The voice vote came over objections from lawmakers who said the requirement unfairly singles out one medical procedure for special treatment.
Several lawmakers questioned the legality of the proposal. But the House vote comes less than two weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court gave its approval to a law that, in some ways, is even more restrictive.
Rep. Jack Jackson Jr., D-Window Rock, however, pointed out that the Arizona Constitution, unlike its federal counterpart, contains a specific right of privacy. Despite Wednesday's vote, the future of the measure remains murky. Gov. Janet Napolitano said during last year's campaign that she does not support a waiting period.
HB 2308 says the woman needs to be informed of the risks and alternatives at least 24 hours before an abortion can be performed. She also would have to be told the probable development age of the fetus and the medical risks of carrying the child to term.
The only exception to the waiting period is when an abortion is necessary to prevent the woman's death or avert "substantial and irreversible impairment" of major body functions.
Doctors who violate the requirement are subject to license suspension or revocation.