The Arkansas House of Representatives passed a bill that would double the waiting time for a woman waiting on an abortion.
House Bill 1578, by Rep. Robin Lundstrum, R-Springdale, would require patients seeking abortions to wait 48 hours after first meeting with their physicians before having the procedures. The past requirement was at least one day.
Like current state law, physicians would be required to explain to the patients how the procedure works, the possible side effects and how it could go wrong.
The doctor is also required to explain the fetus's development before performing the procedure.
A violation of the bill, if enacted, would be a Class A misdemeanor and punishable by up to one year in jail.
Metro on 03/26/2015