Republican lawmaker Rick Womick says he's giving up on a controversial plan to require that women be shown ultrasounds before abortions.
Womick, R-Rockvale, withdrew his proposal after a contentious hearing Tuesday afternoon.
The proposal was stopped by other anti-abortion legislators. Jonesborough Republican Matthew Hill argued an ultrasound requirement would make it easier for abortion rights groups to overturn Tennessee's regulations in court, and it probably wouldn't do much good.
"Sixty-five percent of all abortions in the state of Tennessee are now done before nine weeks. An abdominal ultrasound is unlikely to show a woman in early stages the humanity that is there."
Womick attempted to push through House Bill 1459 despite its having little support from anti-abortion groups.
Originally, the bill would have required an abortion provider to perform an ultrasound and show the results to a woman. Womick said most providers do the ultrasounds anyway, and his bill would insure women received all the information available before making their final decisions.
But the proposal comes as Tennessee already faces litigation over the waiting period, inspection requirements and other rules put in place last year. Abortion rights groups argue they're meant to make it harder for women to get abortions and push providers out of business.
Womick's measure also faced questions about whether it would work. It called for performing transabdominal ultrasounds using an external probe. To produce a clear image, most early-term ultrasounds are done with an internal probe.
Facing a likely defeat, Womick decided to withdraw the proposal. But he said he'll continue to fight for an ultrasound requirement, even after he retires from the legislature following this year's session.
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