Ultrasound Viewing Option Amendment

S.B. 1283  Sen. Wayne Kuipers

 

Current Status
S.B. 1283 was introduced in the Senate on April 22, 2010 and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Description
S.B. 1283 would require abortion facilities to use the most technologically advanced ultrasound equipment available in the facility for performing diagnostic ultrasounds prior to an abortion. Since enactment of the Ultrasound Viewing Option law in 2006, abortion providers who do pre-abortion diagnostic ultrasounds must give the woman seeking an abortion the opportunity to view the ultrasound screen, and offer her a printout of the ultrasound image. This Amendment will help ensure that the woman can see a sharp, clear image of her baby. Having this critical information will enable the woman to make a truly informed decision regarding abortion.

Background
Those who work with women in crisis pregnancies indicate that many abortion-minded women choose to bring their baby to term after viewing an ultrasound image of their unborn child. Armed with this knowledge, prolife legislators enacted the Ultrasound Viewing Option law in 2006, requiring that abortion providers who do diagnostic ultrasounds prior to abortions give the woman the opportunity to view the ultrasound screen and offer her a printout of the ultrasound image.

However, anecdotal evidence reveals that some abortion facilities are purposely keeping and using older ultrasound equipment for the pre-abortion ultrasound examination. Older ultrasound equipment produces poorer images. Meanwhile, these facilities use their most advanced equipment when actually performing the abortion.

Giving women poor quality images of her baby from old ultrasound machines does not provide her with the necessary information that constitutes truly informed consent as she makes this life or death decision. Abortion facilities have a financial incentive to keep this information from women. This legislation creates a buffer between that financial interest and a woman’s right to know the truth.