Ultrasound imaging; no law or regulation of State shall require for nonmedical reasons. (SB1080)

Introduced By

Sen. Barbara Favola (D-Arlington) with support from co-patron Sen. Ralph Northam (D-Norfolk)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Ultrasound imaging. Provides that no law or regulation of the Commonwealth or administrative action of an agent of the Commonwealth shall require that a person receive ultrasound imaging for nonmedical reasons or ultrasound imaging that is not medically indicated as a condition of receiving a medical procedure. Read the Bill »

Status

01/17/2013: Failed to Pass in Committee

History

DateAction
01/09/2013Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/09/13 13102501D
01/09/2013Referred to Committee on Education and Health
01/17/2013Passed by indefinitely in Education and Health (8-Y 7-N) (see vote tally)

Comments

Elizabeth Kimbriel writes:

I favor passage of Senate bill 1080 that will begin to rectify the outrageous imposition of a particular religious doctrine on all women in Virginia regardless of their faith.

Senate bill 1080 will nullify the onerous forced ultrasound law enacted by the 2012 General Assembly. The forced ultrasound law made Virginia the laughing stock of the country. That and related laws and regulations passed last year would drag women back into a previous century. People of a particular faith in Virginia do not have the right under the Constitution to impose their specific religious doctrine upon the entire citizenry of Virginia. The laws and regulations passed in 2012 target one gender of citizens for special treatment, imposing upon their right to free determination. Senate Bill 1080 aims to correct the injustice done to the women of Virginia last year.

ACLU-VA Women's Rights and Reproductive Freedom, tracking this bill in Photosynthesis, notes:

The ACLU of Virginia supports this bill because it seeks to repeal the law passed in 2012 requiring that a woman undergo a transabdominal ultrasound prior to an abortion. Health care decisions are best made by individuals and their medical providers, not politicians. Patients should not be forced to undergo any procedure against their will or better judgment. Mandatory ultrasound puts
government into the examination room and lets politics come between a woman and her physician; curtails a woman’s constitutional rights to privacy and liberty by subjecting her to possibly unwanted and unnecessary medical procedures; place undue burdens on women seeking legal and safe abortion care; and is simply a delay tactic that imposes additional costs and prolongs a woman’s access to her abortion.

Mark C writes:

And since the aclu supports it I OPPOSE IT.

That is all folks. Thanks for coming.

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