TRI In The News
Over the Line in Virginia?
From The Times Union
Original article available here
Virginia has become the focus of national attention, and in some cases ridicule, over a proposed law that would require women who are considering abortion to have an ultrasound. Critics say the law would would result in most women having to undergo a trans-vaginal procedure that they depict as tantamount to state-mandated rape.
Proponents of mandatory ultrasound say they want women to consider the full consequences of their decision by being able to view an image of the fetus. Some dismiss the rape analogy, saying women have a choice not to get an abortion to begin with. They also argue that the law doesn’t actually require trans-vaginal ultrasounds. Seven states have such laws in place. Oklahoma was the first in 2008. Most give women the option to view the image or not; Texas requires the doctor to display it and describe it out loud. Other laws take various forms.
Opponents, however, say that because an image of a fetus is difficult to obtain with an external ultrasound early in pregnancy, when most abortions are done, women would have to have an internal one. Some say it’s ironic that Virginia law makes it a crime to insert a foreign object into a woman’s vagina against her will. One suggestion was to revise the bill to allow women to turn down the procedure, but Republican lawmakers have rejected it, at least so far.
The proposal has been criticized by civil libertarians on both the left and the right. In a letter to Virginia Gov. , John Whitehead, president of the Rutherford Institute wrote:
“While all of us who value the sanctity of life hope to see the day when life at all stages is protected, this legislation, well meaning though it may be, is a misguided attempt at bringing about a change in the heart of women opting for an abortion. Compelling women to undergo invasive and unconstitutional ultrasounds in order to have an abortion will only further politicize and polarize an issue that has little to do with politics and everything to do with human rights.”
There were reports late Tuesday that Republican legislators might be having second thoughts about the bill.
What do you think? Is the whole idea of a state-mandated ultrasound inappropriate? Would you be comfortable with it if women could opt out? Do you see another option for compromise, or should governments stay out of this and leave it between women and their doctors?
