Posted on Wed, Apr. 09, 2008

A key Senate committee approved Tuesday a compromise bill to require all women seeking an abortion to pay for an ultrasound scan before going through the procedure.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Dan Webster, appears to have wide support to pass both chambers this year, after a version with even stricter provisions passed in the House last week. Gov. Charlie Crist has not indicated whether he will sign the bill into law.

The bill, approved 4-3 Tuesday by the Senate Health Regulation Committee, requires abortion clinics to perform an ultrasound before every abortion and give the woman the opportunity to see the results.

A woman must waive in writing her right to see the picture, unless she's a victim of rape or incest.

Webster's version differs from the one the House passed 70-45.

His bill does not require girls under 18 to get a court-appointed guardian when they seek a judge's permission to avoid notifying parents before undergoing an abortion.

State law currently requires ultrasounds for all women who seek abortions after the first trimester -- about 5 percent of the 96,000 abortions performed in 2006. The measure would apply the procedure to the great majority of abortions, done between one to 12 weeks.

Opponents say the procedure is not medically necessary in most cases and, at a cost of $100 to $200 per ultrasound, will impose another barrier to women who want to end their pregnancy.