Tennessee Legislature Will Hold Hearing on Bill to Stop Forced, Coerced Abortions

Nashville, TN (LifeNews.com) -- Tennessee's Freedom from Coercion Act (HB 3301) by pro-life Rep. Susan Lynn (R-Mount Juliet) will be heard again next Wednesday, March 3, following limited debate last week by members of the House Public Health and Family Assistance sub-committee. Action was slowed when Rep. Henry Fincher (D-Cookeville) expressed concern that women at risk of undergoing coerced abortions may not benefit from proposed signage to be displayed in the offices of physicians performing abortions. Rep. Fincher repeatedly stressed that many women in Tennessee may not know the meaning of the word 'coerced.' Opposition to the pro-life bill was also voiced by the Tennessee Medical Association (TMA), in part because of the bill's "burden" on abortion providers to post required signage in waiting areas and procedure rooms where abortions are performed.

Ed Albin of Tennessee Right to Life says, "It would seem that another concern is that such signage would alert pro-life patients that their physician or facility participates in the practice of abortion."
Proposed signage opposed by both Rep. Fincher and the TMA would state the following: "Notice: It is against the law for anyone, regardless of the person's relationship to you, to coerce you to have an abortion. By law, we cannot perform an abortion on you unless we have your freely given and voluntary consent. It is against the law to perform an abortion on you against your will. You have the right to contact any local or state law enforcement agency to receive protection from any actual or threatened criminal offense to coerce an abortion. " Albin added, "Tennessee Right to Life will continue to work with legislative sponsors to address sincere concerns and to find language acceptable to members of the sub-committee."