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Planned Parenthood Health Systems says two bills on the legislative agenda are backdoor attempts to limit legal abortions in South Carolina, but sponsors of the bills say the group's concerns are unwarranted.

The first bill, S.84, would require an ultrasound to determine the gestational age of the fetus that would be shown to patients before all abortions. It also would mandate that a patient or her parent or guardian get information about fetal development and alternatives to abortion.

Lindsay Siler, public affairs coordinator for Planned Parenthood, said the bill's "oppressive restrictions" put politics above the health and safety of women.

"In South Carolina, we already have counseling and mandatory delay, and now a woman has to review an ultrasound and sign off on it?" she said. "It's another intimidation tactic aimed at restricting access."

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But Sen. Kevin L. Bryant, a sponsor of the bill, said it just beefs up the counseling.

"I feel the child in the womb does have rights, but I don't think this limits anyone's access to an abortion," he said. "It does allow for a more informed decision because the mother would see a picture of the child in the womb."

He said he is told "that lots of folks who get the ultrasound choose to keep the child."

The bill has been referred to the Senate Medical Affairs Committee, on which Bryant, R-Anderson, will serve this year.

The second measure, H.3019, would declare a fetus a person in the case of a civil action.

"For instance, if a woman lost her baby in a personal injury situation (like a car accident) or somebody attacked her, she could sue civilly," said one of the bill's sponsors, Rep. F. Gregory Delleney Jr., R-Chester and York. "However, it doesn't affect abortions. Abortions are specifically excluded."

"Last year, we dealt with the criminal aspect of this in the Unborn Victims of Violence law, and this basically does the same thing for civil actions. It specifically does not deal with the medical procedure of abortion," said Rep. Gloria Haskins, R-Greenville, another sponsor.

"Any concern they have that this is a backdoor attempt to limit abortions is unfounded."

But Siler said it sets the stage for the rights of the fetus to supersede those of the pregnant woman.