California considers allowing nurses to perform abortions without doctors

Bill in state senate would give more power to nurse practitioners to address looming staff shortages and potential increase in demand

California has introduced a bill that would allow nurse practitioners to provide abortion care without the supervision of a physician.

The San Diego senator Toni Atkins, who introduced the bill, said the expansion of nurses' roles would address both a looming shortage of healthcare professionals in the state, and help California prepare for a potential influx of patients driven by increasingly stringent abortion laws elsewhere.