Lawmakers Propose Ultrasounds Before Abortions
(Columbia, SC) - Getting an ultrasound is a normal part of most pregnant women's journey into motherhood. Now, some state representatives want women considering abortions to view images of their fetuses before a decision is made.
Rep. Greg Delleney (R-Chester and York Counties), said, "I'm just trying to save lives and protect people from regret and inform women with the most accurate non-judgemental information that can be provided."
Delleney is the main sponsor of the amendment. Currently, there is already a South Carolina law requiring women to pass prerequisites before abortions, including reviewing abortion information and undergoing a waiting period. Still, Delleney says women need more information to make a final decision.
"From the calls I've gotten, I think some people wished there was an ultrasound requirement at the time they underwent the abortion procedure," he said.
But Delleney's ideas are meeting a lot of opposition from several organizations, as well as other lawmakers, such as Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter (D-Orangeburg County). She says it's too extreme.
"I see it as some kind of emotional blackmail, and I think we're putting an undue burden on our healthcare providers and on folk who are providing those services," Cobb-Hunter said.
She also says it creates privacy issues and doesn't give women credit that they can make their own reproductive decisions. "The supporters of this legislation seem to believe that women enter into this decision blindly or without a lot of thought."
House members will vote on the second reading of the amendment Wednesday. We'll keep you posted on what they decide. If it passes, it will go to the Senate for debate.
Copyright 2006 WLTX-TV Terms of Service
About Chris Slattery
Chris was honored with the "Champion for Life" award, a pro-life
tribute, from John Cardinal O'Connor, and had the privilege of being
the Confirmation sponsor of the famous Dr. Bernard Nathanson, the
producer of the acclaimed videos, "The Silent Scream,"and "Eclipse of
Reason."
Chris's opened NYC's first full time crisis pregnancy center locations,
and quickly implemented on site clinic care with ultrasound and full
pre-natal care programs 20 years ago, to supplement the main work of
crisis pregnancy counseling. EMC's counselors have served over 70,000
girls and women since they opened, and have saved over 12,000 from a
certain abortion in that time. Thousands have turned to abstinent
lifestyles, as well. They provide one-on-one friendly counseling and in
many locations on site medical care, in addition to referrals for
adoption, housing, and legal aid, and provide material supplies for
mothers and babies.
He also recently won a quick settlement of suit filed against a major
NY abortion mill chain for their deceptive advertising in the Yellow
Pages.
Chris has been a pro-life leader for over 25 years...organizing
Operation Rescue in NYC, prayer vigils, protests at Planned Parenthood
conferences -their Board meetings& their abortion sites, Marches,
Life Chains, Truth Tours, training sessions, conferences, press
conferences, lawsuits against his opponents.
Chris has granted hundreds of TV, radio, and print media interviews
with local, national and international media in the past 20 years.