(Radio Iowa)- An Iowa Senate subcommittee has advanced a bill supporters say would prevent abortion pills from being mailed into Iowa by requiring an in-person visit to an Iowa physician before abortion pills can be prescribed. Pulse Life Advocates executive director Maggie DeWitte — a spokesperson Iowa Pro-Life Leaders — urged lawmakers to pass the bill.

“While we would support taking this drug completely off the market, in the meantime we want some common sense safeguards to ensure the safety of women who are ingesting this drug.” Iowa Catholic Conference executive director Tom Chapman says abortion pills are readily available online and the latest state data indicates 70 percent of abortions in Iowa are induced by medication.

“Obviously our group doesn’t support abortion, but it seems best for women to see a medical professional before taking these pills,” Chapman said. “In our view, it doesn’t interfere with the doctor-patient relationship. It actually requires one.” Medical groups say the bill requires Iowa physicians prescribing abortion pills to share inaccurate information about abortion reversal drugs.

Dr. Teresa Fuller, who works at clinics in Perry and Dallas Center, says that damages the doctor-patient relationship.”I took an oath to first do no harm,” Fuller said, “and I think lying to my patients does immense harm.” Seth Brown, a lobbyist for the Iowa Medical Society, says the bill would expose doctors to lawsuits. “We do feel like this will target physicians in an already unstable practice environment,” Brown said, “so we do want to be mindful of that as we’re looking at (the question): is Iowa a welcoming place for OB-GYNs.”

Two Republican senators on the subcommittee voted to advance the bill, however both suggested the bill will be changed as it moves through the senate. Senate Democratic Leader Janice Weiner, the other member of the subcommittee, voted against the bill.