Forced ultrasounds

Nurses Activism

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Has anyone been following this? Virginia just passed a law that requires any woman who wishes an abortion must have an ultrasound (and pay for it) prior to the abortion. Since most of these are done prior to 12 weeks that means the ultrasound will most likely be lady partsl. Does any one else have a problem with this? I know that the abortion would also be lady partsl but this is an unnecessary procedure. What is the medical purpose here? Obviously none. Here's a few links covering the story. I was disappointed I couldn't find any public comments from nursing organizations.

to determine gestational age because if it's past a certain amount of time it's illegal to perform an elective abortion.

this is currently considered standard procedure prior to an abortion. all women have an u/s prior to an abortion. what they do not get is a play by play ultrasound with added info, such as heart beat.

an u/s has to be done, otherwise they would not know gestation, or whether or not it was abnormal or ectopic.

they want a "play by play" ultrasound performed, which is typically given to women who are carrying a wanted pregnancy and care about the details.

Ah, the religious right, how I love thee. Seeing as how they deny so many basic and widely accepted scientific theories, I'm surprised they even consider ultrasound a real scientific tool and not some ominous tool of the devil.

But seriously, it baffles me how ridiculous things are getting with women's reproductive rights. Forcing a translady partsl US onto a woman for electing to have a legal procedure? Makes total sense.

WOMEN. IN. THIS. COUNTRY. HAVE. THE. RIGHT. TO. CHOOSE.

Should ultrasound be required, then do the ultrasound, it doesn't necessarily need to be trans-lady partsl, 3-D, and complete with surround sound. As medical professionals who need to keep out own personal feeling aside, why try to "convince" a woman that she should not go through with an abortion should she have made what it probably a difficult choice already? This whole "hear the heartbeat" and "see the image" is psychological warfare on women. Informed consent is saying "you are such and so weeks along, are you sure of this decision, this procedure could cause bleeding, infection etc etc......."

If the religious right in this country want to "save the souls" of those who make this choice, then pray for them, have Mass for them, whatever, but it is hard enough for a woman to get through the line of protesters outside of a clinic, nevermind a blow by blow, play by play description of an ultrasound, complete with volume.

Specializes in Dialysis, Hospice, Critical care.

These issues are not about "protecting" anyone. Once a baby is born,as far as these squits are concerned the mother and child are on their own. The stated purpose of these bills is so women can see the "life" they are "ending" and thus realize the magnitude of of what they are about to do. In essence, they are calling women stupid. I know women who have had abortions, and they realized the import of their actions before taking this step. They were victims of rape, failed birth control, or there were profound and life threatening birth defects as revealed by amniocentesis and ultrasound. It wasn't for convenience as these idiots claim. Their sole and unstated goal is the control of women...to drive them back into the kitchen where they are to remain...barefoot and pregnant. They are locked in a mindset that tells them women are chattel, failing to understand that view died when women finally got the right to vote.

Despicable legislation.

VA's mandatory ultrasound is now set up to performed 24 hours before the procedure. So much for small government and reduced spending.

The clinician and the patient should be determining care, not some zealot legislator trying to score political points at the expense of women exercising their constitutional right.

Informed consent? My ass! These paternalistic legislators disrespect ALL women (not just women seeking abortions) by deeming women not competent enough to make their own medical choices without unnecessary medical procedures mandated by the Government.

Also disturbing, the author of this travesty is a woman, Jill Vogel. Ew.

Specializes in Critical Care.
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.

There is a Christian support group called Rachel's Vineyard that has weekend group sessions where abortion survivors can let go of their guilt and pain and even name their baby. I believe they are throughout the nation, maybe you could suggest this to her.

There is a Christian support group called Rachel's Vineyard that has weekend group sessions where abortion survivors can let go of their guilt and pain and even name their baby. I believe they are throughout the nation, maybe you could suggest this to her.

I am puzzled as to how these types of support group are therapeutic, it seems like they would reinforce feelings of guilt and pain, rather than alleviate them.

I am puzzled as to how these types of support group are therapeutic, they seems like they would reinforce feelings of guilt and pain, rather than alleviate them.

I'm also puzzled, especially by the term "abortion survivor." That carries a connotation that a woman would be a recovering "victim" of abortion; as if to say that there was no choice at all, that the abortion was done against her will.

I actually do know someone who was forced to have an abortion; she was sixteen and both her and her boyfriend's parents pressured her non-stop, so against her wishes she had the abortion, and it was a really awful situation.

I knew the boyfriend's parents, and I was so disgusted by the way they handled that that I dropped the friendship.

I imagine the experience would colonize the rest of her life in a really terrible way and I could see someone like that benefiting from a support group.

But I think that is a very specific demographic that might be helped by such an organization; I don't think most women characterize themselves as either victims or survivors.

This law, and all others like it, are idiotic.

Providers and their patients are perfectly capable of ordering appropriate tests.

Politicians are so freaking clueless. They really need to get off their soapbox and venture out into the real world, because many of them need a serious reality check.

Specializes in Critical Care.

From college thru working, the only thing I've heard of more than people who've had abortions is rape. It seems so many women have been victims of rape. In the instances of abortion I know of a person being forced by her mother and in general the boyfriends pressuring them to have an abortion. I don't believe most women truly make a choice I'm going to have an abortion, rather than give in to the fears and pressures coming from their boyfriends or parent's if they are young. I've known women who resisted the pressure to have an abortion and are glad they did. However their relationships with the boyfriend didn't last because the men were interested in easy sex, not a true relationship! Funny, one guy went from wanted the abortion to suddenly loving the child after the child was born, all the while scorning and mistreating the mother of his child! All the people I know who had their child are glad they did, regardless of the sacrifices and struggle that went with it. They don't regret having their baby!

A baby is not something you choose to have or not, like I'm going to buy this dress or go on a vacation. The whole pro-choice rhetoric diminishes us as human beings and dehumanizes the unborn baby!

Why is it at a time when there is such a variety of birth control options out there, that abortion is felt to be so needed? All birth control has done has helped create an environment where men can have sex with many woman and get away with it. Too many women are so desparate for a "man" that they will compromise themselves and their values to be loved and then live in fear of getting pregnant because their is no real relationship where a child would be welcome, but just a convenient sexual arrangement till something better comes along. The Catholic church appears to be standing alone in defense of marriage and family.

I've read there's been over 40 million abortions since Roe vs Wade in America alone. That's a genocide that rivals what happened to the Jews during the Holocaust! All those people missing from the world, what contribution could they have made, what friends, spouses, mothers and father's could they have become, we'll never know!

I remember reading Steve Jobs of Apple was adopted and thanked his birth mother for giving him life. One person whose talents have contributed tothe whole world. Just something to think about!

Brandy 1017~

I just wanted to comment on your post, you said some things in particular that I felt compelled to respond to.

As a woman *I* have a desire for sex, I want to have sex with my husband and not become pregnant each time we have sex. I enjoy the closeness we have, as well as our 'no child' right now relationship. We have been together for 8 years.

Women, college students included, enjoy sex and actively seek out sexual partners. Men, of course, also actively seek out these women who desire sexual relations. I believe the idea that women are being taken advantage of thanks to birth control is ignorant of a woman's DESIRE for sex, as well as the freedom with which BC gives us to have sex. It allows US/ME to enjoy having sex without becoming pregnant.

While I am sure some men take advantage of women, I have never felt taken advantage of due to my BC use. Rather, I felt responsible for protecting myself from unplanned pregnancy.

Yes I did have an abortion because *I* wanted one. I did not want to have a baby at 20, nor did I desire to remain pregnant. Adoption is not an option for myself, although I believe it is a perfectly wonderful option for women who do not want to parent, or do not wish to have an abortion. After my abortion, while I was still asleep, I had an IUD inserted so that medications I was on would not affect the action of my BC pills. (I was not told that this drug affected BC)

I cringe when I see others assume that I/we cannot make the choice to terminate a pregnancy without pressure or coercion. I am not a weak woman, nor am I uneducated or easily influenced by others. I know what I want out of life, and pregnancy at 20 was not what I wanted... 10 years later and I am so thankful for everything I have now. I am glad that I chose abortion, yes, I am glad.

Family planning is such an emotional, controversial, personal issue. I support ALL women, as they are, whatever their situation is. Women deserve no less.

Thanks for listening,

KaliLPN

From college thru working, the only thing I've heard of more than people who've had abortions is rape. It seems so many women have been victims of rape. In the instances of abortion I know of a person being forced by her mother and in general the boyfriends pressuring them to have an abortion. I don't believe most women truly make a choice I'm going to have an abortion, rather than give in to the fears and pressures coming from their boyfriends or parent's if they are young. I've known women who resisted the pressure to have an abortion and are glad they did. However their relationships with the boyfriend didn't last because the men were interested in easy sex, not a true relationship! Funny, one guy went from wanted the abortion to suddenly loving the child after the child was born, all the while scorning and mistreating the mother of his child! All the people I know who had their child are glad they did, regardless of the sacrifices and struggle that went with it. They don't regret having their baby!

I don't see how having the option of abortion presented, even suggested, after going through the most traumatic experience a woman can go through is a bad thing. This is why I'm pro-choice. To me, I don't believe that any woman would really want a daily reminder of that experience in the form of a child, but then again, each woman should have that choice.

A baby is not something you choose to have or not, like I'm going to buy this dress or go on a vacation. The whole pro-choice rhetoric diminishes us as human beings and dehumanizes the unborn baby!

Yes, a baby is something you choose to have or not have. Roe v. Wade affirmed that for women. I don't see how the power of choice diminishes us as human beings. I thought free will was a fundamental aspect of being human.

Why is it at a time when there is such a variety of birth control options out there, that abortion is felt to be so needed? All birth control has done has helped create an environment where men can have sex with many woman and get away with it. Too many women are so desparate for a "man" that they will compromise themselves and their values to be loved and then live in fear of getting pregnant because their is no real relationship where a child would be welcome, but just a convenient sexual arrangement till something better comes along. The Catholic church appears to be standing alone in defense of marriage and family.

Why is abortion needed? Well, because not everyone wants to share your world view. This country is great because the First Amendment says I can be an Atheist and you can be a Christian without any worries of prosecution or restriction to your beliefs. The First Amendment was not put in place to expand the beliefs of Christianity across the laws of the land. If a Christian wants to be pro-life, fine, go for it. But by trying to have abortion made illegal, you're infringing on my beliefs, my First Amendment right.

I've read there's been over 40 million abortions since Roe vs Wade in America alone. That's a genocide that rivals what happened to the Jews during the Holocaust! All those people missing from the world, what contribution could they have made, what friends, spouses, mothers and father's could they have become, we'll never know!

I remember reading Steve Jobs of Apple was adopted and thanked his birth mother for giving him life. One person whose talents have contributed tothe whole world. Just something to think about!

Are we really comparing abortion to the Holocaust? Around 1% of abortions are done at more than 21 weeks. If you're comparing those congregated cells and non-viable fetuses to millions of individuals executed in the name of German supremacy, well, more power to you.

I think everyone, no matter what side of the abortion argument they are on, needs to read Carl Sagan and Ann Druyan's essay on abortion. I'll even link you! The abortion debate - Carl Sagan

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