Abortion; removes specific time frame for performance of ultrasound, informed consent. (SB920)
Introduced By
Sen. Jennifer Wexton (D-Leesburg) with support from co-patrons Del. Sam Rasoul (D-Roanoke), and Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-Alexandria)
Progress
✓ |
Introduced |
✗ |
Passed Committee |
☐ |
Passed House |
☐ |
Passed Senate |
☐ |
Signed by Governor |
☐ |
Became Law |
Description
Timing of ultrasound prior to abortion; informed consent. Removes the specific time frame for performance of a pre-abortion ultrasound, a requirement of informed consent prior to abortion. Current law requires the ultrasound take place at least 24 hours prior to the abortion or at least two hours prior if the woman lives at least 100 miles from the facility where the abortion is to be performed. Read the Bill »
Outcome
Bill Has Failed
History
Date | Action |
---|---|
01/08/2015 | Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/14/15 15102243D |
01/08/2015 | Referred to Committee on Education and Health |
01/19/2015 | Impact statement from VDH (SB920) |
01/29/2015 | Failed to report (defeated) in Education and Health (6-Y 9-N) (see vote tally) |
Comments
The ACLU of Virginia strongly supports this bill because 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, and health care decisions are best made by a woman and her doctor, not politicians. The requirement that women must wait 24-hours before receiving an abortion after their ultrasound causes a heavy burden on women who must travel at least twice to their abortion provider, find child care, pay for lodging, and miss work. The hoops established by the 24-hour mandate highlight how mandatory ultrasound laws are not about informed consent, but about restricting access to abortion.