Guys, you’ll have to pardon this one – it’s a touchy subject, but open your eyes and pay attention. Planned Parenthood released a statement Monday in response to State Sen. Dan Patrick’s, R-Houston, Senate Bill 920, "The Abortion Bill," proposing legislation on ultrasounds before abortion procedures.
Keeping in mind that this bill was introduced in 2007, it has finally come to light, and Planned Parenthood had something to say.
"Senator Patrick’s proposed legislation goes far beyond offering a woman an option to view an ultrasound image and does not have the woman’s health or best interest in mind," the release said.
It is Planned Parenthood’s standard policy to allow women to view their images anytime they receive an ultrasound. Patrick wants this taken even further, and requires that a doctor or doctor’s agent gives women verbally detailed descriptions of the images during the ultrasound. This would mean women would be forced to face something they may not be ready to face.
S.B. 920 is not about being pro-life or pro-choice; it is an attempt to force people to see what they may not want to see. A pro-life individual or couple may not want to be forced to see a failed pregnancy in utero, and a pro-choice individual or couple may not want to be forced to see the choice they made. This, in essence, would be the equivalent of forcing all soon-to-be licensed drivers to physically view a corpse that is the result of drinking and driving or making a law that would make all new parents witness child abuse firsthand before allowing them to take their new baby home. Sounds ridiculous, right?
Planned Parenthood hit the nail on the head when they said in their statement, "This requirement is inappropriate for all women and is a callous political tactic."
Politicians may have the right to govern how and to what extent doctors may practice medicine, but is it right? As a woman, my last concern would lie with what politics say I can and cannot do and should or should not see when it comes to my body.
Yes, there are guidelines we must follow, and thankfully, those same people also govern what a doctor can or cannot do to their patients. It is unfair for some medically untrained legislative Gump that holds a seat in office to tell anyone what they and their doctors deem as medically necessary.
Doctors and politicians alike follow some sort of oath by which they must abide, but be sure that they are not one in the same. Women’s bodies are governed by the woman that lives within – not anyone else.
While S.B. 920 passed the Texas Senate with a vote of 22 to 8, it failed to pass in the Texas House of Representatives. Legislators in Florida have it a little differently – their S.B. 257, the same as our S.B.920, passed their House of Representatives in April, and according to the Florida State Senate Web site, died on the special order calendar in May.
While these bills failed in both states, it is apparent that we must make the time to be educated the bills that are being sent through. Many people think writing their congressman with their opinions or ideas is a fruitless effort, but may be just the thing that brings something about, such as a new law.
Ultrasounds are a medical miracle that can detect abnormalities or confirm all is well. Forcing a woman to see what is on the screen is simply absurd; if a woman wants to know what is there, all she has to do is ask. There is no need to waste time making it a law.
MousaviDin, a communication junior, can be reached via [email protected]
