■ 04 February 2012 | 5:00 AM
Insult to women
Re ' Va. Senate poised to pass bill for pre-abortion ultrasounds,' front page, Jan. 31: Talented women of Virginia teach our children and lead our schools. They operate and perform life-saving procedures in our hospitals. Virginia women head large corporations and start successful small businesses. Many women in our state risk their lives while serving our country. Yet, according to Senate Bill 484 and its companion, Senate Bill 279, these same educated women are not intelligent enough to make difficult health care decisions without the needless, additional procedures that these bills dictate.
Stephanie Peck
Norfolk
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Yes it is an insult
Why is that those that who rant and rave about "Big Government" and the "Nanny State" are those that are pushing the hardest to shove the government into women's various orifices, why do they think that the government should stand between a woman, her doctor and her own conscience? Why is that the anti-abortion, forced birth crowd are generally the same group who are against contraception and sex education? The same ones who think the government should decide who can marry who. Yes I agree that the government should not tell us how to live out lives, but the reference about what to eat is not valid. This country faces a huge, pardon the pun, problem with obesity and every time someone, like Mrs. Obama, suggests that we should try to watch what we eat and suggest that food manufactures could help out so that the cheapest foods aren't the least healthy, a certain, predictable, segment goes nuts; "they telling us what to eat!" Sorry but the left wants the government to help people, sometimes at little over zealously, but with the best interest of general population in mind. The right wants the government to regulate people's behavior, according their perceived "morals", and fights against most attempts to help anyone but the already well off.
is it only a matter of time?
Is it only a matter of time before the "holier-than-thou's" attempt to pass legislation to require the permission of the potential biological father before allowing a woman to terminate a pregnancy?
That would be the ultimate insult to women.
Florida is working on that
A so-called "justice" committee has passed another idiotic "fetal pain" bill that allows biological fathers - even if they fathered the fetus through rape - to sue for damages (!) if they think the woman has aborted a fetus that they believe can "feel pain". Hello, slippery slope.
Some women lie
Unfortunately, some women seeking abortions later than a clinic is prepared to provide will lie about their gestational status.
That does not make a blanket requirement reasonable. But it does make it prudent practice to verify fetal age when there is any doubt.
some women lie...
about the gestational stage of their pregnance? Your views usually support the least possible interference in a citizens right and you feel the marketplace will solve all issues in economics, racism, politics, ideology.
Nevertheless, you state that because women may lie you believe it is justified to require a woman to undergo a procedure that may(!) determine her stage of pregnancy and if the embryo is too premature, it is justified for the physician to penetrate her with an instrument?
Let us all thank God you are not a physician.
It does make a difference
Though Virginia's law;s status is currently uncertain due to court decisions, physicians who perform abortions in the third trimester which do not meet the requirement for physical peril to the woman's health can be charged EVEN IF THE WOMAN LIED to get it done, if the physician knew, or should have known, the gestational age was misrepresented.
This provides a means to determine that definitively.
Note that I did not say I agreed the requirement is justified at every stage of pregnancy. If a physician can determine with certainty that the pregnancy is early enough to not be in doubt for late term status, then I would agree there is no justification for the requirement.
Coercion is not "prudent practice"
Forcing a woman to have an invasive procedure because "some women lie" (what a charming statement) is not "prudent practice". Would you test chronic pain sufferers to determine whether or not they should get pain meds? And don't most physicians have their patients sign waivers stating that they understand the risks of a surgical procedure? Not to mention that an early-trimester abortion - especially when it's done medically rather than surgically, as is becoming more common - is 14 times safer than childbirth, yet nobody makes a woman undergo tests to verify whether or not she can safely deliver a baby. It all comes down to the fact that legislators don't think women are intelligent enough to make our own medical decisions.
By the way, can you verify your statement that women are "prepared to lie" if they can't get an abortion within a certain timeframe? Have you seen this happen firsthand or is this more anecdata?
did women just start lying this last week?
There has been little problem performing abortions in the past?
All of a sudden women can't be trusted or they are not mature enough to make a tough decision?
How about a lie detector test?
Is the vaginal probe blasting a caraway seed sized fetus with sonic waves really safe?
Why the 24 hour waiting period?
There are so many things wrong with this bill it is hard to fathom.
Next step is a concurrent log, notarized, listing dates and times of sexual intercourse for additional verification.
Approval for the abortion will be given in 39 weeks.
and furthermore
The AG of this state is challenging Obama care because it forces people to buy Health Insurance. With that in mind if the state wants these further tests they should be paying for them. Talking out of both sides of your mouth isnt something most people appreciate.
how ridiculous
Do you pull teeth without xrays. Im sure a thorough exam is given before an abortion takes place. Maybe not an ultrasound but enough of one to know how far along a woman is. I doubt seriously that any provider of this service takes the womans word for it. Its not like shes trying to get into the local bar or buy cigarettes. If there isnt one then that provider is in violation of the current laws and should be taken to task for it. When a person with your training makes this kind of comment its misleading.