Texas approves bill requiring sonogram before abortion

[somone]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/04/us-texas-abortion-idUSTRE7230VK20110304

Texas approves bill requiring sonogram before abortion
By Corrie MacLaggan

(Reuters) - Women seeking an abortion would have to first get an ultrasound under a measure approved on Thursday by the Texas House of Representatives. The proposal, the first significant bill considered by the House this year, was designated by Republican Governor Rick Perry as an emergency priority. A similar measure has already been approved by the state Senate.

Women would have to get an ultrasound between 24 and 72 hours before an abortion, the bill says. They would view the sonogram, hear an explanation of the image and listen to the heartbeat, if it is audible.

"We want to make sure that they're fully informed, that they understand the medical consequences, the psychological consequences and everything involved in the procedure," said the bill's author, Republican state Rep. Sid Miller.

Opponents said that the requirement would traumatize women already in a difficult situation. During debate on the House floor, bill opponent Rep. Carol Alvarado held up a trans-vaginal probe used for sonograms early in pregnancy to illustrate what she called a "very intrusive process." "This is not the jelly on the belly that most of you think," said Alvarado, a Houston Democrat. "This is government intrusion at its best."...


Transvaginal ultrasound

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Modern_Matthew]

2. They tried to pass the same garbage in KY. Surprisingly, it failed. nt

[Tx4obama]

3. This is NOT a BELLY sonogram it is a VAGINAL sonogram!!! Photo below

Look here at diagram: http://www.burntorangereport.com/diary/11098/hb15-a-transvaginal-ultrasound-wand-in-every-woman

[Zoeisright]

4. Why do repukes like to rape women with a blunt instrument?

I mean, really, these people are just fucking despicable. I doubt this will be found constitutional.

[Rochester]

5. They're moving towards making this Onion piece real

http://www.theonion.com/video/new-law-requires-women-to-name-baby-paint-nursery,14393/

[U4ikLefty]

6. LOL...that is sooo great. I'm saving that one for later use

Thx!!!

[Manifestor_of_Light]

7. Who has to pay for this nonsense?

I had a vaginal ultrasound a couple of years ago to check for fibroids.

It was traumatic, and mentally, it did feel like rape. I had to cry about it. And I felt physically weaker afterwards.

NOT FUN.

[npk]

8. How about house republicans in Texas are forced to have a lobotomy

before they can vote, discuss, or prescribe a bill or law. You know so a doctor can sit down with them and explain the side effects of having shit lodged deeply in their brain and how that impediment can dangerously and psychologically effect others.

[glinda]

9. I think the men who voted this should... uh... can't say it here.

[pinboy3niner]

10. What's all this about requiring sonoman?

He may be a good DUer, but I think it's absolutely outrageous that he should be required! I may enjoy reading his posts, but...what's that? Sonograms? Well, that's very different...

[Lyric]

11. Vaginal ultrasounds are often painful and traumatic.

Those probes are cold, hard, and can be painful if you're tense or upset or naturally small inside. The vagina tends to tense up and refuse entry when a woman is nervous, upset, or scared, so forcing this thing inside of her before an abortion (which is obviously an occasion for fear, anxiety, and/or grief) is just heinous. It can HURT, no matter how much lube they put on it. At least in terms of the vaginal sensations felt by an unwilling woman who's being forced by the state to undergo this, those things might as well be rape sticks. It's one thing if you're undergoing this willingly because you're pregnant and the doctor needs to check on the baby's progress. That makes the experience at least a neutral one, if not a positive one. But THIS?

Now that I think of it, I don't see anything mentioned about an exception for victims of rape--so what, they're going to insist that raped girls undergo forced penetration AGAIN? What if the girl is 12 years old? What if she has vaginal damage from the rape that hasn't completely healed yet? What if she's suffering PTSD in the aftermath of the rape, and this sends her spiraling into a complete mental breakdown? What kind of evil bastards THINK of this shit?

I have a great idea for a new Texas law. Mandatory, un-sedated colonoscopies for all new legislators before they're allowed to run for office. They have to be awake and watching the screen, and THEY have to pay for it. After all--the state has a vested interest in ensuring that its lawmakers aren't going to keel over from colon cancer within a year of being elected.

:eyes:

[Ilsa]

12. You nailed it. +1000. nt

[DearAbby]

13. Too be fair

Men should have to view a slide under a microscope of LIVE SPERM with a waiting period before having a vasectomy. Women should demand Men jump through hoops for their reproductive health care, the same as they demand. Wonder what other ways we can make it more difficult for men to seek reproductive care, maybe if we think about it we can come up with something.

[Le Taz Hot]

14. So,

who's payin' for this shit? I'm assuming it's not cheap.