Tenn. bill would make abortion info public

NASHVILLE, March 19 (UPI) -- Tennessee is considering a bill that would require state health officials to post information about doctors who perform abortions, officials said.

Critics say the measure could unintentionally identify women who undergo the procedure, The (Nashville) Tennessean reported Monday.

"I think publicizing this information will do nothing but cause serious consequences," Democratic state Rep. Gary Odom of Nashville said. "This is dangerous. This is a dangerous piece of legislation."

The proposed Life Defense Act would require doctors in Tennessee to have admitting privileges at a hospital near where they perform abortions. Also, the state Department of Health would be required to publicly release information on abortions, including the name of the doctor who performed the procedure and demographics about the women who receive them.

Republican state Rep. Matthew Hill of Jonesborough said the information is already collected by health officials. The only change, he said, is that it would be made public.

Hill said the bill was suggested by the group Tennessee Right to Life.