In a recent article posted January 7, 2010 writer Zach Krajacic attempts to persuade readers that a law enforcing women contemplating abortion to view an ultrasound of an abortion would significantly decrease the amount of abortions performed annually. Abby Johnson, director of Planned Parenthood in Texas, resigned from her position after viewing an ultrasound of an abortion. Krajacic feels that other women would have a similar response if they were placed in the same position as Johnson. By implementing this type of law would hopefully better inform mothers of what an abortion actually entails. Krajacic claims that many women considering abortion see the procedure as removing growing tissue rather than a procedure that indeed ends life. After viewing an abortion procedure, many women choose to continue with their pregnancy. While the law would not ban abortions, hopes of the new law would ideally decrease the amount of abortions performed every year.
Zrajacic is quite persuasive in his article noting the following reasons for success of this law:
1) Even Pro-Choice advocates are for the reduction in number of abortions performed annually
2) Abortion would still be legal and not limit a woman’s right to choose
3) Allow women to make more informed decisions prior to abortion
Many states have adapted laws that require abortion providers to grant the opportunity of an ultrasound for the woman considering an abortion. Additionally, Republicans have presented a bill to Congress that would require all abortion clinics to complete an ultrasound. Although this bill has not been passed, as Krajacic states, it is a step in the right direction. Krajacic argues that a law such as this would benefit both pro-life and pro-choice supporters. The law would reduce the amount of abortions, yet abortion would still remain an option for women facing an unintended pregnancy.
There are similar laws that would force women to either view an ultrasound of their unborn child or abandon the option of abortion. I’ve included some links to several websites describing how these laws affect women. In August of 2009, Oklahoma overturned a law passed the prior year that required doctors to perform an ultrasound and describe the fetus to the mother prior to abortion. If the woman refused the ultrasound she would be prohibited from having an abortion.
http://community.feministing.com/2009/08/oklahoma-overturns-abortion-la.html
In our own state, Arizona, recent change in abortion laws will affect the lives of women. Below is a list of new abortion laws signed by Governor Jan Brewer.
HB 2400: creates a state ban on partial birth abortions so local prosecutors can make sure the federal partial-birth abortion ban can be better enforced.
HB 2564: would protect women, parents, children, and the civil rights of health care providers.
That legislation calls for informed consent before abortions along with a 24-hour waiting period, parental consent requirements, a prohibition on non-doctors doing surgical abortions, and of conscience for all health care providers, including pharmacists, on abortion and abortion drugs.
SB 1175: a bill to ban non-physicians from doing abortions in the state -- important because a nurse at Planned Parenthood has been putting women's health at risk by doing surgical abortions.
http://www.lifenews.com/state4295.html
Article: http://www.lexisnexis.com.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/us/lnacademic/results/docview/docview.do?docLinkInd=true&risb=21_T8305036836&format=GNBFI&sort=RELEVANCE&startDocNo=1&resultsUrlKey=29_T8305036843&cisb=22_T8305036842&treeMax=true&treeWidth=0&csi=7945&docNo=1
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Dana this was a great article! Those women were so determined to argue their point, they were practically yelling at each other. The woman from the Abortion Federation was convinced that this law was some kind of scare tactic used to pursue a political agenda. The woman from the National Right to Life responded by saying it was something a woman was entitled to, but would not be forced to view the ultrasound. She said it would help them make a more informed decision and I have to agree.
ReplyDeleteIf a woman is considering getting an abortion, then of course seeing an ultra-sound would be the last thing she would want to do. It would make their decision exponentially harder to actually see her child living in the womb. If this piece of legislature passes it would benefit both sides of the abortion argument; women would still have the right to chose and they would have a greater understanding about the impact of the decision they would be making.
After reading this article I started thinking about the movie Juno when she learns that at her stage of pregnancy, her baby had already developed nails. This is a great example about the powerful effect that a little knowledge can have on such a life changing decision so women should definitely take advantage of having the option to see their ultrasound.
Here's another link to an article covering the Planned Parenthood director who quit after viewing ultra sound
ReplyDeletehttp://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,571215,00.html