BOISE, Id – Eight states already require women considering an abortion to have an ultrasound. Idaho is one of the state’s wanting to have that same requirement on the books. State lawmakers Wednesday took another step forward to do just that.
The legislation would require a woman to get either an abdominal or trans-vaginal ultrasound before an abortion. It would be up to the woman to decide whether to see any images from that ultrasound. But Susan Young argues those images would help a woman make an informed choice.
Susan Young “Abortion is already legal in Idaho. This legislation simply requires one more piece of vital information be given to women who are in the process of making a decision for life. Countless women carry physical and psychological scars, resulting from abortions they had ten, twenty, or thirty years ago.”
Young directs Life Choices Pregnancy Center in Sandpoint. She compared abortion to the Holocaust and asked lawmakers to support the bill.
Sue Philley of Boise gave lawmakers a petition before testifying. She said it had 4,000 signatures from people who don’t want this legislation.
Sue Philley “Health care decisions are best made by individuals and their medical providers, not politicians. Mandatory ultrasounds place undue burdens on women seeking legal and safe abortion care and interfere with individual rights to privacy.”
Lawmakers on the Senate State Affairs Committee voted along party lines, Republicans for the bill, Democrats against. Now the full Senate will consider it.
Copyright 2012 BSPR
