Over the line in Virginia?

Virginia has become the focus of national attention, and in some cases ridicule, over a proposed law that would require women who are considering abortion to have an ultrasound. Critics say the law would would result in most women having to undergo a trans-vaginal procedure that they depict as tantamount to state-mandated rape.

Proponents of mandatory ultrasound say they want women to consider the full consequences of their decision by being able to view an image of the fetus. Some dismiss the rape analogy, saying women have a choice not to get an abortion to begin with. They also argue that the law doesn’t actually require trans-vaginal ultrasounds. Seven states have such laws in place. Oklahoma was the first in 2008. Most give women the option to view the image or not; Texas requires the doctor to display it and describe it out loud. Other laws take various forms; you can see a comparison chart from the Guttmacher Institute here (opens or downloads a .pdf depending on browser settings.)

Opponents, however, say that because an image of a fetus is difficult to obtain with an external ultrasound early in pregnancy, when most abortions are done, women would have to have an internal one. Some say it’s ironic that Virginia law makes it a crime to insert a foreign object into a woman’s vagina against her will. One suggestion was to revise the bill to allow women to turn down the procedure, but Republican lawmakers have rejected it, at least so far.

The proposal has been criticized by civil libertarians on both the left and the right. In a letter to Virginia Gov. , John Whitehead, president of the Rutherford Institute wrote:

“While all of us who value the sanctity of life hope to see the day when life at all stages is protected, this legislation, well meaning though it may be, is a misguided attempt at bringing about a change in the heart of women opting for an abortion. Compelling women to undergo invasive and unconstitutional ultrasounds in order to have an abortion will only further politicize and polarize an issue that has little to do with politics and everything to do with human rights.”

The Virginia bill, along with other sex-related controversies like the one between Catholic bishops and the Obama administration over birth control, also made for fodder on Saturday Night Live:

There were reports late Tuesday that Republican legislators might be having second thoughts about the bill.

What do you think? Is the whole idea of a state-mandated ultrasound inappropriate? Would you be comfortable with it if women could opt out? Do you see another option for compromise, or should governments stay out of this and leave it between women and their doctors?

Jay Jochnowitz

10 Responses

  1. kimmer says:

    A law created by men who think that women need to be controlled, led, bullied, shamed, because we can’t possibly make a thoughtful decision on our own. It’s all about control. Keep your laws and religions out of my doctor’s office and out of my womb.

  2. Terri says:

    If this was not such a serious topic the irony would be humorous. The government needs to keep their laws off my body.

  3. Chad9976 says:

    I don’t think you need an ultrasound, just show women considering an abortion the link between abortion and cervical cancer.

  4. Ann says:

    I agree with #1. It is highly inappropriate.

  5. Charlie says:

    As a conservative man I think this is just DUMB!!!! Dear fellow conservatives – Please get the Government out of our personal lives.

  6. meme says:

    Is it just me or are there others who believe government has become way too intrusive. What I fine alarming is that we as a society just accept it. You can’t buy certain cold remedies at the drug store without giving over your drivers license, talk of fining parents with heavy children, fines in the food industry for having transfats in the french fries. More and more we’re losing our right to make our own decisions. wake up people!

  7. Pluto Animus says:

    The logic seems pretty sound to me:

    Republicans hate sexual freedom, especially when it is women who have it, and they want to punish sex that isn’t for making babies.

    So they say, “OK, you little whores, you want something in your vagina? We’ll stick something in your vagina, you little sluts!”

    Aren’t they charming people?

  8. Magpies says:

    Sounds like time for a major petition! Unbelievable.

  9. DeeN says:

    Abortion is one of the most violent , invasive, intrusive acts that can be done to a woman, which also ends another human life in the process. An ultrasound, even transvaginal, doesn’t compare to the assault of abortion. Before a woman volunteers for this assault, some people would like her to get a glimpse of what will be chopped up and sucked out of her during that procedure. This can usually be achieved by an abdominal ultrasound with a trained nurse to explain what’s on the screen.
    Don’t want to be pregnant? Think about that before consenting to that other “intrusion”. Abortion is a hideous means of birth control. Much more needs to be done to encourage conception control, so every pregnancy is a wanted pregnancy, and abortion as a means to avoid unwanted pregnancy becomes obsolete.

  10. Victor Blackthorne says:

    Charlie the reality is that is soon as the government is using citizen money to pay for activities the tax payers have been given the right to make an issue about the use of their money. Some abortions at public expense involve married women kill their husband’s unborn child. I would think that as a man you would be bothered about the government’s role in facilitating deception of husbands.