Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says the Legislature should amend the language of the state's near-total abortion ban to address confusion over when doctors may terminate pregnancies.

Patients and doctors have said the ban's only exception is so vague and the penalties are so steep that providers are reluctant to perform emergency abortions.

"I do think that we need to clarify any language so that doctors are not in fear of being penalized if they think the life of the mother is at risk," Patrick said Sunday on WFAA's "Inside Texas Politics" after he was asked whether he expected "any significant abortion legislation,

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick recently said the state's near-total abortion ban needs clarification. The V-6 engine used to be the happy medium, providing more power than a four-cylinder and better gas mileage than a V-8.