AgitProp Ultrasound: OK law requires women seeking abortions to nontherapeutic ultrasound procedure

[BurtWorm]

Lindsay Beyerstein of Majikthise explains this idiocy:

http://majikthise.typepad.com/majikthise_/2008/04/oklahoma-anti-c.html


Anti-choicers in Oklahoma want to force women to undergo ultrasounds in order to obtain abortions.

These are non-therapeutic ultrasounds that are imposed for the sole purpose of showing the woman a picture of her own fetus.

The height of arrogance anti-choice arrogance is on display in this legislation: 'Excuse me, lady, you say you want an abortion. Did you realize that there's a fetus in there? You don't know what you're doing. Let me stick this tube into you, so that you can be competent to make a decision.'

The law requires the doctor to use whatever form of ultrasound that will yield the best pictures:

Under the guise of obtaining informed patient consent, this new law requires doctors to withhold pregnancy termination until an ultrasound is performed. The law states that either an abdominal or vaginal ultrasound, whichever gives the best image of the fetus, must be done. Neither the patient nor the doctor can decide which type of ultrasound to use, and the patient cannot opt out of the ultrasound and still have the procedure. In effect, then, the legislature has mandated that a woman have an instrument placed in her vagina for no medical benefit. The law makes no exception for victims of rape and incest. <Alternet>

Fun fact: The short-serving Bush Birth Control Czar Eric Keroack made name as a pioneer in the field of agitprop ultrasound.

[John Q. Citizen]

1. Ultra sound kills cells in the developing embryo. Maybe someone can take it to court on that.

While it's very useful in problem pregnancies as a diagnostic tool, it shouldn't be used for non-necessary reasons.

[zanne]

2. It's an invasion of privacy...

And an intrusion by a theocratic form of government.

[Junkdrawer]

3. It's law now in OK....

http://www.sbcbaptistpress.org/BPnews.asp?ID=27892

[BurtWorm]

4. That is a repulsive story

:puke:

[Junkdrawer]

6. Ain't it though? If the SCOTUS affirms the bill, would that affect Row v. Wade?

:shrug:

[JoDog]

5. I like how they call it

"an opportunity" for the woman to view the child.

No, "an opportunity" implies that there is free will here. It would be an opportunity if the state offered to pay for a willing woman's ultrasound. The woman is being forced to undergo the ultrasound to get an abortion. That's not an opportunity, that is compulsion.

It's so insulting. Like the woman is not aware that there is a fetus in there?

[Junkdrawer]

7. Yeah. And waterboarding is "an opportunity" to provide information...

It's all about framing.

[housewolf]

10. "Opportunity" also implies something that the individual might actually WANT

And I agree with you, "opportunity" means that you have a choice about it

[Orrex]

8. You know, I'd be okay with this law, if...

Well, no. The law is disgusting, end of story.

But if the ultrasound law is so great on the grounds that it might keep an evil woman from "killing an innocent life," then surely it would be fine to require chickenhawks to view videos and photo albums showing the children and families in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere prior to initiating a bombing campaign.

[BurtWorm]

9. That is brilliant.

But of course it doesn't serve the agenda of right-wing Christians so it will never become law.

[Orrex]

12. Amen.

Sadly.

The mantra seems to be: Force someone else to protect what we consider life, at all costs.

[Gormy Cuss]

11. "Neither the patient nor the doctor can decide which type of ultrasound to use..."

I wonder how much the cost of abortions will increase in order to pay for this "opportunity."

IIRC vaginal ultrasounds are better than abdominal for very early pregnancy which means that most women seeking abortions will be subject to this invasive probe for the sole purpose of making the anti-abortion crazies feel better.

[uppityperson]

13. Who will pay for it?

[jmowreader]

15. Who do you think?

I was under the impression that doctors performed ultrasounds on women who are receiving abortions anyway, but that they didn't make the woman look at the scope. This law apparently requires the woman to look at the scope so she'll get all maternal and shit after seeing "her baby" and immediately jump up off the table, throw her clothes on as fast as she can and run straight first to a church and then to a Baby Items store.

And they say there's no crack in the Bible Belt. What woman seeking an abortion DOESN'T know what's in there?

[BurtWorm]

14. kick