Republican lawmakers in the Kansas Legislature have agreed on final language to update the information that doctors must provide to women seeking an abortion. The original proposal had specified that the disclosures be printed in 12-point, Times New Roman type. Now the bill includes a mandate for black ink on white paper.
Kathy Ostrowski, with the group Kansans for Life, said it’s important the information be legible.
“This may be irrelevant to some girls or women, and it may be very relevant to people who are debating certain things and unsure of whether they want to proceed,” Ostrowski says.
The bill also adds requirements that physicians share details about their credentials, insurance and any disciplinary actions against them. Democrats call it “one-sided” to require such disclosures for abortions but not other medical procedures.
“If I’m going to have a vasectomy, should my doctor be under that same scrutiny, be under that same obligation to disclose?” said Democratic Rep. Louis Ruiz.
If both the House and Senate approve the new disclosure requirements, the bill will go to Gov. Sam Brownback for his consideration.