On Thursday January 26th, the Senate Education and Health Committee passed SB 484 (Vogel) which if made into law would require that, as a component of informed consent to an abortion, to determine gestation age, every pregnant female shall undergo ultrasound imaging and be given an opportunity to view the ultrasound image of her fetus prior to the abortion. The medical professional performing the ultrasound must obtain written certification from the woman that the opportunity was offered and whether the woman availed herself of the opportunity to see the ultrasound image or hear the fetal heartbeat. A copy of the ultrasound and the written certification shall be maintained in the woman's medical records at the facility where the abortion is to be performed.. The bill would also mandate a waiting period of from 2 to 24 hours before the women can have the abortion.

This bill is clearly designed to shame women and seeks to coerce them into continuing their pregnancy through what amounts to emotional and psychological blackmail. We need to trust women to know what is right for them. It is wrong in the extreme for the government to mandate this unnecessary and expensive procedure which will only make matters more difficult, especially for low income women who must now find more money to pay for this pointless exercise in manipulation.

Please vote against SB484!