Abortion; optional ultrasound. (HB546)
Introduced By
Del. Eileen Filler-Corn (D-Fairfax Station) with support from co-patrons Del. Bob Brink (D-Arlington), Del. Vivian Watts (D-Annandale), and Sen. Jennifer McClellan (D-Richmond)
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 »
Outcome
Bill Has Failed
History
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| 01/06/2014 | Committee |
| 01/06/2014 | Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/08/14 14101748D |
| 01/06/2014 | Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice |
| 02/04/2014 | Assigned Courts sub: Constitutional Law |
| 02/05/2014 | Subcommittee recommends laying on the table |
| 02/12/2014 | Left in Courts of Justice |
Comments
The ACLU of Virginia supports this bill, and its companion bill, HB547, because it seeks to repeal the law passed in 2012 requiring that a woman undergo an ultrasound 24 hours prior to an abortion. The mandatory ultrasound law is intended to shame, judge, and make a woman change her mind by requiring doctors to provide the woman with the option to view the ultrasound image and hear the heartbeat. Requiring an ultrasound before abortion is about political interference, not informed consent. Information should not be provided with the intent or result of shaming, judging, or making a woman change her mind. Health care decisions are best made by a woman and her doctor, not politicians.
Science shows that the fetus has unique DNA, the DNA of a human being, not that of the mother or of the father. It is a separate human being. Abortion kills a human being. If you lawmakers foster abortion, you are complicit in ignoring science and in the killing of human beings – 28,000 per year in Virginia. Eventually, you will be held accountable.
This crosses so many boundaries and rights of a woman. There are circumstances in which an abortion, in my opinion, should be allowed and putting a woman through more pain and emotional turmoil is beyond immoral.