The Missouri House has endorsed legislation requiring the prescribing doctor to be present when a woman takes any drug to induce an abortion.
The bill received first-round approval 119-41 on Wednesday. It needs another vote to move to the Senate.
Sponsoring House member Jeannie Riddle, a Republican from Mokane, says the legislation is intended to protect women's health and safety. Opponents said the goal appears to be more restriction of abortion.\
The legislation specifically mentions RU-486, a two-step regimen of pills to induce abortion in the first several weeks of pregnancy.
An official with Planned Parenthood in Missouri says under current procedures, a woman takes the first pill in front of a doctor and the second one at home 24 to 48 hours later.
