Initiative Would Limit Abortions

A Planned Parenthood representative says an initiative launched Monday could discourage doctors from performing most abortions in Idaho.

A group calling itself “Idahoans for Compassion” announced plans for an initiative to be called, “Protection From Late Term Abortion Act.”

It restricts abortions after the 13th week. But language in the initiative says physicians can be sued for damages, “even if any party consented to the performance of an abortion.”

Sabrina Shalz, associate director of Planned Parenthood in Idaho, said Wednesday that would discourage doctors from performing abortions.

“I would be surprised if any physician in Idaho performs an abortion unless the life of the mother is at risk,” she said.

Idaho law says an abortion in the first trimester is considered a private decision between the woman and the physician, Shalz said.

She said it is still a safe procedure after 13 weeks, but physicians in Idaho generally don’t perform abortions after 16 weeks unless the health of the mother is at risk.

“But our stance is that we support a woman’s right to choose at whatever point she needs to make that decision,” Shalz said.

The most recent available statistics indicate Idaho women had 1,346 abortions in 1993. Of those, 1,280 were performed before the 13th week.

The initiative was filed along with three other initiatives, including the second attempt by the Idaho Citizens Alliance to pass an anti-gay initiative. All will be reviewed by the attorney general’s office, which has 20 days to uggest possible revisions or alterations to the initiative.

After that, supporters must gather 41,335 signatures from registered voters for each of the initiatives. The signatures must be submitted by July 5, 1996.