Forced ultrasounds

Nurses Activism

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pinkfluffybunny

162 Posts

I think the law in Texas mandates the woman has to see the ultrasound as well as hear the heartbeat.

dishes, BSN, RN

3,950 Posts

I think the law in Texas is the woman can decline to view the images and listen to the heartbeat, but must listen to the description of the exam. Here is a news link regarding the Texas law

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/07/us-texas-abortion-idUSTRE81605220120207

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN

1 Article; 20,908 Posts

Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

I think it's bullying, guilt provoking and terrorizing someone into decision they don't want but intimidating them in a frightening and vulnerable time. Making this decision isn't easy for a majority of women, but forcing them to "listen to the babies heartbeat" and have a probe shoved up their "private parts" is invasive and threatening. It is forcing one person's beliefs upon someone else. With all the shouting and posturing about "rising healthcare costs" to force any medical treatment on ANYONE is a violation of one's rights. ANYTIME Government begins to be able to dictate someones personal and private decisions is a slippery slope down a dangerous and scary path. I would rather have someone choose abortion than give birth and abuse their child.

It angers:madface: me and scares :eek: me at the same time.

obprof

62 Posts

Specializes in L&D,Mother/Baby, WHNP,Educator,NICU.

As a Women's Health NP, I can tell you it is done for dating of the fetus so the type of abortion procedure can be determined and for true informed consent. Many women of my generation were told when they were terminating a pregnancy that the fetus was "only a bunch of cells" only to later find out how much more developed the fetus was and regret the decision.

dudette10, MSN, RN

3,530 Posts

Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.
I think the law in Texas mandates the woman has to see the ultrasound as well as hear the heartbeat.

Before any of these laws, my friend did indeed see the ultrasound, as it was on top of the paperwork that the PP social worker had in front of her while informed consent for the procedure was being obtained.

She couldn't miss it, and it haunts her to this day. She even ordered a copy of her medical records to punish herself.

Just maybe this law will encourage the SWs to be more careful with placing the ultrasound in such a way so that the woman CAN'T see it if she chooses not to.

dishes, BSN, RN

3,950 Posts

obprof

It is my understanding that a translady partsl ultrasound is done because it is the more accurate than a pelvic ultrasound, is this correct?

dishes

merlee

1,246 Posts

Another way to diminish women. Right up there with limited access to contraception. What could women possibly know about their own health-care needs?

Laws made by men who govern women.

When men can get pregnant then they can vote on women's health issues. Harkens back to the 'drive-thru' mastectomy issues in the early 90's.

So sick of men deciding for women what is correct.

brownbook

3,413 Posts

Please, "women of my generation....terminating a bunch of cells." I refuse to believe any one of average intelligence could claim thinking a bunch of cells somehow meant they weren't pregnant with a baby? Makes no sense! What did you think, it was a bunch of cells until magically during labor and delivery these magic cells transformed into a human shape? Denial ain't just a river in Egypt!

I had an abortion many years ago, I think I may be of your generation, I was not a nurse at the time, I knew I was "killing a baby". I have no regrets. Please all of you stay out of my uterus!

Clovery

549 Posts

I read something about this a year or so ago, except I think it was in Texas or Georgia. Women were required to view the ultrasound screen before proceeding with the abortion. IMO it's cruel. I'm pretty sure they do an ultrasound before and possibly during any abortion, and it's included in the cost. They need to confirm a uterine pregnancy, date the pregnancy and determine the location before proceeding with the surgery. A very early pregnancy (>8 weeks) may only require vaccuum aspiration, while a more advanced pregnancy could require curretage and/or surgical evacuation. And there could be cases where a woman has an ectopic pregnancy or a hydatidiform mole - so I think it's important, if not necessary to use visualization tools before the process.

It was unclear to me from the articles (which i admittedly just skimmed) - are they making the woman go to a separate ultrasound and then forcing a waiting period before she can proceed with the abortion?

I have also heard about forcing women to listen to the heartbeat before having an abortion. It seems so wrong and cruel to me, it's traumatic enough as it is.

MN-Nurse, ASN, RN

1,398 Posts

Specializes in Med Surg - Renal.
I had an abortion many years ago, I think I may be of your generation, I was not a nurse at the time, I knew I was "killing a baby". I have no regrets. Please all of you stay out of my uterus!

Well said. I notice many of the medical practitioners commenting on this issue appear to have zero respect for their patients.

VioletKaliLPN, LPN

1 Article; 450 Posts

I have always been a science geek and my mom is a Nurse, so knowing fetal development was something I knew based on curiosity. I did not have an abortion without the knowledge of exactly what I was doing, the stage of development, etc. I do know that some women are not as informed as I was, for whatever reason, and I do believe it is important to answer questions when asked.

One of the problems I have is when information is used as an emotional ploy to foster feelings of guilt, or make women feel shame about their situation. For me the choice was not difficult, and nothing would have changed my mind of elicited guilty feelings. However, this does not mean that another woman is not as easily upset by hurtful statements such as "You m@#$%&". Medically accurate information is always a positive, emotional language to elicit a response is never positive.

I would love to exist in a world in which women were supported through ALL of their struggles, be it abortion, carrying to term an unplanned pregnancy, caring for a baby as a single mom, or choosing the right birth control for her situation. Reproductive issues are incredibly personal, and as such I believe they should stay between a woman, her doctor, her partner, and her god.

As a woman, I sympathize with other women who are making the choice, whether or not it is easier or more difficult.(some situations may be easier to choose an abortion than others) I accept women as they are, and do not make judgments based on reproductive choices.

As a woman I also cringe to think that the government wishes to control reproductive choices, such as contraception and abortion. These groups of mostly men do not know the fear, stress, and utter horror of being a 19 year old with a positive pregnancy test. In college, I was hoping for a bright future, and then THIS. It is terrifying.

Governments should stay out of health care in a sense of dictating which procedures are followed for which procedure. Allow the physicians and nurses, you know, the health care professionals who are highly educated, do their job.

VioletKaliLPN, LPN

1 Article; 450 Posts

It was unclear to me from the articles (which i admittedly just skimmed) - are they making the woman go to a separate ultrasound and then forcing a waiting period before she can proceed with the abortion?

Yes, they are pushing for legislation which would require a separate/special ultrasound to be given by the abortion provider. They already perform an ultrasound directly before the procedure, but they want an u/s which gives a "play by play", so to speak.

My abortion was at 7w5d. It was aspiration only, performed under versed and fentanyl sedation, along with a paracervical block. Curretage was not used, and the physician informed me that she does not routinely use it under 12 weeks gestation. My procedure took 3 minutes.

Under 12 weeks it is incredibly simple procedure.

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