Abortion; optional ultrasound. (SB1332)
Introduced By
Sen. Ralph Northam (D-Norfolk) with support from co-patron Sen. Barbara Favola (D-Arlington)
Progress
✓ |
Introduced |
✗ |
Passed Committee |
☐ |
Passed House |
☐ |
Passed Senate |
☐ |
Signed by Governor |
☐ |
Became Law |
Description
Abortion; optional ultrasound. Eliminates the requirement that a pregnant woman undergo a mandatory transabdominal ultrasound prior to the performance of an abortion to determine the gestational age of the fetus and provides that a pregnant woman shall be offered the opportunity to have an ultrasound performed. Read the Bill »
Status
01/28/2013: Failed to Pass in Committee
History
Date | Action |
---|---|
01/18/2013 | Presented and ordered printed 13102232D |
01/18/2013 | Referred to Committee on Education and Health |
01/28/2013 | Passed by indefinitely in Education and Health (8-Y 3-N) (see vote tally) |
Comments
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.