A controversial abortion-related bill requiring a woman to view the images from an ultrasound before consenting to a pregnancy termination has been signed by Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, and will go into effect in the state on July 1st.
McDonnell restated his support for the bill Wednesday, but critics have vocally opposed the measure and debate over the practice has been rife on a national level as more states consider adopting the measure. McDonnell said Wednesday that mandated ultrasounds will “can help the mother make a fully informed decision” as to whether to have an abortion.
Critics of the bill, however, cite unnecessary cost, invasion of privacy and overzealous government intervention in implementation of the bill, but McDonnell said in a statement yesterday that the measure doesn’t interfere with a woman’s right to choose an abortion. He explains:
“This bill does not legally alter a woman’s ability to make a choice regarding her pregnancy. It does, however, put Virginia in line with 23 other states that have some type of requirement that a woman be offered a view of an ultrasound before an abortion can be performed.”
McDonnell added:
“I believe that we become a more compassionate society when we enact reasonable legislation to protect innocent human life.”
Former Virginia governor Tim Kaine blasted the bill in a statement, saying mandated ultrasounds are a distraction from issues that affect Virginians every day, as well as a poor reflection on the state’s priorities:
“I continue to believe this legislation is bad for Virginia’s image, bad for Virginia’s businesses and bad for Virginia’s women… Deviations into the social debates of the past not only distract from those challenges, but they actually hurt our reputation as a world-class place to do business.”
Kaine said lawmakers should shift focus to initiatives that “create jobs, grow our economy, educate our workforce and tackle our deficit.”
the purpose of having an ultrasound done before this procedure is to determine that the pregnancy is still in the first trimester, abortion after the first 8 weeks illegal in this state… I don't have a problem with this provision and neither should anyone else, late term abortion with the exception of imminent danger of death to the mother is an atrocity…
I'm in school for ultrasound, I think having an ultrasound is vital for several reasons…I'm not taking the stance on whether or not it is needed for a woman to make an informed decision (by viewing it). I am also not interested in the pro-life/pro-choice argument. as l But rather as long as abortion is legal ultrasound is vital to see if there actually is a pregnancy IN the uterus, is it a ectopic or heterotopic pregnancy (outside the uterus), it is the best measure to see how far along the pregnancy is (especially transvaginal ultrasound, helps with this – most accurate).Plus there could be multiple gestational sacs, not just one. You dont get any of that really from a blood or urine pregnancy test. You can have a posiitve pregnancy test and not even be pregnant (trophoblastic disease etc).
Let's impose more rules for woman! Are these men nuts? I think they should have an invasive proceedure before they can pass laws. The idea of the ultrisound is to shame women or pull at they're heart strings, so they will not abort. Boy that's a clever idea. What do you take up for, idiots? Becareful girls they may just try to stop us from voting!
Being forced to view the ultrasound cannot be done. Yes, doctors (not the state) can refuse to perform an abortion without an ultrasound first, but the mother cannot be forced to look.
hey Bobby, you stink!
hey Bobby, you stink!