We confess outright that we stole the idea from the fetus fetishizers who, under the rubric of 'informed consent', force women to undergo ultrasound before terminating a pregnancy.
There's a good round-up of the state of play of this incrementalist attack on women's rights in the US here.
In all, 17 states considered more than 30 ultrasound bills this year, a record level of legislative activity on any abortion issue, according to the Guttmacher Institute, an abortion-rights research group. In two states, Florida and Missouri, Oklahoma-style bills were narrowly defeated, and experts on both sides of the issue say they expect many more ultrasound bills next year.
In most cases, while the woman may be forced to pay for this completely unnecessary and invasive assault, she is not forced to look at the ultrasound. In a grand concession to the fact that women might just be regular human beans capable of rational thought, a woman may sign a statement affirming that she had been given the opportunity to view it.
Except in Oklahoma.
Under the new statute, doctors will be required to perform the procedure on all women except in life- or health-threatening situations. In addition, they must make the image visible to the woman and discuss the condition of the fetus, including details about the arms, legs, hands, feet, facial features, beating heart and other functioning organs. No exceptions are allowed in cases of rape or incest.
'Oh, look, Suzy, it has "funny" Uncle Dick's nose.'
Or: 'See those strong arms, Denise? You remember what strong arms this little critter's daddy had, don't you?'
The cruelty and hatred is stupefying.
(First published at Birth Pangs.)
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