Ultrasound prior to abortion; physician civil penalty. (HB547)
Introduced By
Del. Eileen Filler-Corn (D-Fairfax Station) with support from co-patron Del. Marcus Simon (D-Falls Church)
Progress
✓ |
Introduced |
✗ |
Passed Committee |
☐ |
Passed House |
☐ |
Passed Senate |
☐ |
Signed by Governor |
☐ |
Became Law |
Description
Ultrasound prior to abortion; physician civil penalty. Provides that no physician shall be subject to a civil penalty for failure to perform or supervise the performance of the ultrasound imaging required prior to an abortion if, in his medical judgment, such ultrasound imaging is not medically necessary. Currently, any physician who violates any provision of the abortion informed consent statute is subject to a $2,500 civil penalty. 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 14101749D |
| 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, HB546, 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.
Please see my comments on HB546
THANK YOU for killing this bill. Job well done!