Ultrasounds Are Not Political Tools
February 1, 2008 CONTACT: Tarina Keene 757-287-3356 cell ULTRASOUNDS ARE NOT POLITCAL TOOLS; WOMEN’S ACCESS TO ABORTION ONCE AGAIN TARGETED Delegate Kathy Byron’s HB 1315 would mandate an ultrasound before every abortion RICHMOND— Politicians are once again putting their personal beliefs above medical science, women’s reproductive health, and fueling the healthcare cost crisis. The House of Delegates passed HB 1315 62 to 37 Friday. Instead of finding a way to decrease unnecessary and costly medical procedures, HB 1315 will require certain pregnant women to undergo a costly and largely unnecessary procedure. NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia does not oppose legislation that allows a woman the option to have or view an ultrasound at her request or that her doctor deems necessary for care. However, HB 1315 requires a costly ultrasound before a woman can terminate a pregnancy. Worse yet, many of these same women would be forced to forgo the procedure because they cannot pay the extra costs. NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia strongly opposes HB 1315 which would compel doctors to perform ultrasounds on women who seek to terminate their pregnancies or risk a $2500 fine. This bill would not only prohibit women from controlling their own reproductive health, it adds a potentially devastating financial burden on them. Tarina Keene, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia said, “Not only is this bill designed to severely limit women’s access to abortion by adding a prohibitive cost, it is a transparent attack on women and abortion providers. It attempts to shame women out of their choice to terminate a pregnancy. This bill serves no legitimate healthcare purpose and is purely political.” NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia encourages senators to consider this bill carefully when it comes before them next month. HB 1315 does nothing to protect the health of women in Virginia and presents a needless intrusion into the doctor-patient relationship. Keene added, “The medical necessity of an ultrasound is best determined by a woman’s doctor and not by the Virginia General Assembly. If legislators really want to reduce the need for abortion in Virginia, they should support Prevention First measures.” ###
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