Quote:
Originally Posted by Thor
Ok sorry that was my misunderstanding of your original comment:
A doctor should upon request do what his patient asks, couldn't agree more then with the law.
If the law was stating that a woman was forced to look at an ultrasound, forced to listen to the heartbeat or something similar, then thats where I and many others protest.
However this is not the case in Texas:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/...7230VK20110304 |
I guess when in doubt the best thing is to really look at the legislation itself instead of using the wonderful filter of the media. Directly from the
bill, this is what the woman will need to sign off of prior to having the abortion:
"(5) before receiving a sonogram under Subdivision (4)(A) and before the abortion is performed and before any sedative or anesthesia is administered, the pregnant woman completes and certifies with her signature an election form that states as follows:
(1) THE INFORMATION AND PRINTED MATERIALS DESCRIBED BY SECTIONS 171.012(a)(1)-(3), TEXAS HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE, HAVE BEEN PROVIDED AND EXPLAINED TO ME.
(2) I UNDERSTAND THE NATURE AND CONSEQUENCES OF AN ABORTION.
(3) TEXAS LAW REQUIRES THAT I RECEIVE A SONOGRAM PRIOR TO RECEIVING AN ABORTION.
(4) I UNDERSTAND THAT I HAVE THE OPTION TO VIEW THE SONOGRAM IMAGES.
(5) I UNDERSTAND THAT I HAVE THE OPTION TO HEAR THE HEARTBEAT.
(6) I UNDERSTAND THAT I AM REQUIRED BY LAW TO HEAR AN EXPLANATION OF THE SONOGRAM IMAGES UNLESS I CERTIFY IN WRITING TO ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
I AM PREGNANT AS A RESULT OF A SEXUAL ASSAULT, INCEST, OR OTHER VIOLATION OF THE TEXAS PENAL CODE THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES OR THAT HAS NOT BEEN REPORTED BECAUSE I REASONABLY BELIEVE THAT DOING SO WOULD PUT ME AT RISK OF RETALIATION RESULTING IN SERIOUS BODILY INJURY."
As you can see like I've been saying the woman has the option to view the sonogram and hear the heartbeat, but the only requirement is the description of the development of the baby. Also as I mentioned before I believe that an ultrasound was already a requirment prior to having an abortion prior to this bill.