The state of Virginia joins a growing list of states where ultrasound technology will reduce the frequency of abortions by allowing a mother to view her unborn child in the womb before choosing to kill him/her. Although the senate vote was close, the General Assembly overwhelmingly approved the bill, then Gov. Bob McDonnell signed it.
For background, read Pro-life Legislation Floods America
-- From "Ultrasound mandate heads to Virginia governor's desk" by Matthew A. Ward, Reuters 3/2/12
The controversial legislation requires a woman be offered the chance to view the ultrasound image, and holds that a copy of the image must be held in the woman's medical record at the abortion facility for seven years.
Governor Bob McDonnell, who is high on the list of possible 2012 Republican vice presidential candidates, last week withdrew his support for the vaginal probe clause minutes before lawmakers amended and passed the probe-optional measure.
Lawmakers in the Republican-controlled House of Delegates approved the amendments on Thursday in a 61-35 vote. The amendments include making an invasive vaginal ultrasound optional in cases where fetal age cannot be determined with an abdominal ultrasound, which is usually the case in the first trimester of pregnancy, experts say.
Another amendment exempts women from the requirement in cases where pregnancy resulted from rape or incest and was reported to police.
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From "Virginia lawmakers approve pre-abortion ultrasound bill" by Kim Geiger, Los Angeles Times 3/1/12
The bill’s sponsor, Del. Kathy Byron (R-Campbell), says the bill ensures that women are informed about pregnancies before they have an abortion, according to the Associated Press.
Critics say the bill forces women to have – and doctors to perform -- a medically unnecessary procedure. And some say the bill is fraught with potential legal problems.
Carl Tobias, a law professor at the University of Richmond, says the bill might place an undue burden on women, making it vulnerable to legal challenge.
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From "Virginia passes controversial ultrasound law" by Catholic Online 3/1/2012
According to Senate Democrats who oppose the Right to life of the child, even though the controversial trans-vaginal procedure would not be mandated, the bill still constituted government overreach into women's personal medical decisions and the doctor-patient relationship.
Republicans who support the Right to life of the child argued that it was an informed consent issue, arguing that the bill would enable pregnant woman to discover the age of the developing fetus before deciding whether to terminate the pregnancy.
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From "Virginia Governor signs controversial abortion bill" by Matthew A. Ward, Reuters 3/7/12
Women's rights groups and Democratic lawmakers have been livid about what they say is an unconstitutional intrusion by the state.
"This bill does not legally alter a woman's ability to make a choice regarding her pregnancy," the statement [from McDonnell] read. "I believe that we become a more compassionate society when we enact reasonable legislation to protect innocent human life," it added, saying the law aligned Virginia with 23 other states with "some type of requirement" that a woman be offered to view an ultrasound image before an abortion.
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