More States Considering Ultrasound Legislation

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More States Considering Ultrasound Legislation

Special Report - June 30, 2008
A growing number of states are enacting laws that give abortion-minded pregnant women the option of viewing ultrasound images of their unborn child, according to a report by Stateline.org. Overall, 16 states have enacted laws that involve either optional or required ultrasound technology prior to an abortion procedure, and several states have considered similarlegislation. According to the pro-abortion Guttmacher Institute, other ultrasound technology legislation was introduced in 18 states this year alone, with four of these states—Oklahoma, South Dakota, Ohio and South Carolina—enacting ultrasound laws. Oklahoma’s ultrasound law is the strongest in the nation, according to Stateline.org. It requires ultrasounds for women seeking abortions and that doctors display and explain the ultrasound image at least one hour prior to performing an abortion procedure.

Last year, ultrasound technology legislation was introduced in the North Carolina House but was never considered. The bill, HB 1782—Ultrasound Before An Abortion, sponsored by Representatives Mark Hilton (R–Catawba) and Linda Johnson (R–Cabarrus), required abortionists to offer women considering an abortion an ultrasound image of their unborn child prior to performing the procedure. The bill would also give women the right to view material on fetal development, agencies that offer abortion alternatives, and potential benefits available for pre- and post-birth care. Under the bill, abortionists would be required to verify the gestational age of the unborn child and then offer to review the information with the woman. Although the woman would not be compelled to view the ultrasound image, both she and the abortionist would be required to sign a document certifying that the specified educational material had been offered.

Pro-lifers view ultrasound technology as an effective weapon in the ongoing battle to save the lives of unborn children. According to Focus on the Family, which operates the Option Ultrasound Program that works to place ultrasound equipment in “qualified medical” pregnancy resource centers nationwide, 90 percent of abortion-minded women choose life after receiving counseling and viewing an ultrasound image of their unborn child. The ministry estimates that as of May 2008, 90,000 babies have been saved through a combination of counseling and ultrasound technology at these centers.