Wisconsin’s Coercive and Web Cam Abortion Prevention Act

As we’ve noted before, Scott Walker joined the ranks of some of the countries most anti-choice leaders after signing the Coercive and Web Cam Abortion Prevention Act last month–a bill that restricts the ability for abortion providers to render non-surgical abortions. And a bill that managed to put “web cam” in the title. This bill went into action on Friday and as a result, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin has had to halt all non-surgical abortions. 

The law, which took effect on Friday, requires women visit a doctor at least three times before having a drug-induced abortion, forces physicians to determine whether women are being coerced into having an abortion and prohibits women and doctors from using web cams during the procedure.

The Coercive and Web Cam Abortion Prevention Act, which was signed by Republican Governor Scott Walker earlier this month, imposes criminal penalties, including a possible prison sentence, for physicians who violate the law.

Teri Huyck, president and chief executive of Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, said the law was “ambiguous and difficult to interpret,” interfered with the doctor-patient relationship and posed significant risks to doctors.

About 1/4 of Wisconsin’s abortions are non-surgical, and while PP will continue to provide surgical abortions–this new law restricts their ability to effectively provide abortions services to the widest array of women possible. Wisconsin’s Right to Life is actually trying to argue that this helps women, because it gives them time to figure out if they are victims of domestic abuse. Nothing says, I care about the quality of your life, by denying your ability to make decisions for yourself. Feminism taught me that the more access a woman has to reproductive health technologies–the more likely she is able to make better decisions for herself, including getting out of abusive relationships.