BOISE, ID – Last week, the Virginia Legislature created a firestorm with a bill that would require women to get an invasive trans-vaginal ultrasound before an abortion. The outcry prompted Virginia’s Republican Governor Bob McDonnell to announce he wouldn’t sign the bill. A different bill, requiring a regular ultrasound, is now working its way through Virginia. Now Idaho lawmakers are considering a similar bill, that would require one or the other type of ultrasound before a woman can get an abortion.
Kerrey Uhlenkott of Right to Life of Idaho introduced the bill to lawmakers Monday morning.
Kerrey Uhlenkott “Information empowers a women to make true, informed decisions. The ultrasound bill will make available to the mother scientifically accurate information that will enable her to make an informed consent decision.”
Seven states require an ultrasound before an abortion. Another seven have bills pending that would do the same. Democratic Senator Michelle Stennett voted against introducing the bill in Idaho.
Michelle Stennett “This is requiring an invasive procedure, possibly against someone’s wishes, as part of a medical process.”
Uhlenkott responded, saying the bill does not specifically require a trans-vaginal ultrasound. Instead it would be up to the doctor and the patient as to which type of ultrasound the mother would have to undergo. Republicans on the Senate State Affairs Committee voted to print the bill.
Copyright 2012 BSPR
