Want an Abortion? Meet Your Baby First

Want an Abortion? Meet Your Baby First

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

filed under: family

A controversial new law requires women to meet their unborn child before having an abortion.

What if you were told that before you could have an abortion, you had to gaze at your unborn through an ultrasound, and hear your doctor describe your baby -- down to the details of its hands and feet?

If you live in Oklahoma, that might become your reality.

Oklahoma lawmakers hope that getting intimate with an unborn child will touch women - even victims of incest and rape - and persuade her to change her mind and keep the baby.

But the Center for Reproductive Rights has filed a suit against the state, saying the new law endangers health, invades privacy and attacks women's dignity.

The law, which is set to go into effect November 1, would make Oklahoma the fourth state in the nation to require that ultrasounds be performed and viewed by the woman before an abortion is granted.

Other states that uphold this law are Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi.

"I introduced the bill because I wanted to encourage life in society. In Oklahoma, society is on the side of life," said Republican state Sen. Todd Lamb.

Lamb says the lawsuit will stand a constitutional test, and because women are allowed to avert their eyes during the ultrasound, it doesn't qualify as "force."

One provision of the law prohibits women from collecting damages based on claims that a baby born with defects would have been better off aborted.

And abortion rights activists fear the provision could allow doctors to withhold information about abnormalities in the fetus that could lead to complications after birth.

Tell us - does this law violate your basic rights as a woman?

30 comments so far | Post a comment now >>

I have never been more proud to be an Okie. I hope this law passes. At least there are some places that still have people that hold on to conservative values. I saw my Baby at 6 weeks. His heart was beating and I knew then that abortion was murder. Say all you want but nothing can convince me otherwise. I think that every other excuse is just a way to justify murdering an innocent human being. There are millions of people ready and waiting to adopt a child. I don’t understand how carrying a baby to term is worse then killing it as a fetus.

- Jennifer

Posted 10/15/08 03:47 PM

Why is it that Christians are considered “crazy” for believing every human life is important? I think that Oklahoma has a wonderful idea here. They are not outlawing it just allowing you to see who you are “Terminating”. A lot of women don’t even think about the fact that they are carrying a child in their womb. Only how is this going to affect their life. It’s so sad how selfish our society has become. Adoption is an option so many families’ want babies and can’t have them. In the case of rape my heart goes out to those women it’s a horrible monstrous thing for those women to go through, and I can’t imagine how hard it would be to carry someone’s child that hurt you so bad, but it is still a child nonetheless. I just wish that more people would open their minds and see that, and thankfully now Oklahoma is.

- Jennifer

Posted 10/15/08 07:21 PM

first of all, those who use rape as your main argument should look at the statistics for women who become pregnant because of rape.. it’s rare, and while it does happen, it’s not as common as many of you seem to think.. {thankfully}. second, i don’t see why someone pro-choice would have a problem with being able to see the baby prior to making that choice.. no one is taking that option away.. i really don’t understand why some of you are opposed to this. are you fearful of women becoming more educated on their decision and possibly choosing otherwise? If anything it can almost be seen as a “compromise” between both sides.. Women may not really grasp what they are doing until after, many don’t deal with the emotional repercussions of it for years.. It seems to me that this is offering women the chance to really make sure it’s what they want to do.. It’s putting a visual connection, and in my opinion what’s at stake deserves at least that.. Also though, the women deserve to have the CHOICE. If clinics are afraid of women second guessing, like I said earlier, that’s incredibly disturbing. This is a LIFE, no matter what side you’re on.. While the baby deserves a chance at life, the Woman also deserves to have all possible resources and information before making that choice. Whether you’re for it or against it, it’s a life and it’s a BIG choice that the woman ultimately has to live with.. This appears to be something that will help women connect to the depth of what they are doing.. Some women who use abortion as a birth control obviously need that connection, because they obviously aren’t grasping what they are doing.. Again, the abortion doesn’t just happen and then you’re done, many carry the emotional effects for YEARS and YEARS.. For those women, this may help them before they make that choice, it may allow them to connect to the reality of the choice they are making.. i am all for women having all of the education and resources possible before making this choice. i think we are cheating both the women and child if we fail to do so. It’s scary to think some of you see it as “crazy” or denying a woman their rights.. It’s actually disturbing.. I think instead of fighting incessantly for the “rights”

- e

Posted 10/18/08 12:11 AM

Itruly agree with Jennifer. I was 17 when i got pregnant. my mom asked me if i wanted to keep the babay or have an abortion.I just turned 17 and was only in my 10th year of high school.I chose to keep the baby because i didn’t think that it was fair to kill a unborne child because I was stupid to sleep with someone.I think that law is a good thing. you are right their are so many people who could not have a child, and those who can just think about them selfs.

- Anonymous

Posted 11/15/08 12:35 AM

It is so easy to say what another person should do. In reality, none of those responding can say what they would do if they were in another shoes…you can only give your opinion which is based on your past life, environment, experiences, or lack of experiences. No two people are the same. Some are strong, others are weak; some are well educated, others are not; some have strong support systems, others are alone; some have mental or physical disorders, some do not and that saga goes on and on. Look deep into yourselves and really discover why you feel the way you do. Someone else might not have the same opportunity, family support, finances, stability, self-esteem, etc. It’s easy to judge, just as it’s easy to inform someone else what they should do, but it’s not as easy to look closely at one’s self and try to understand what another person might be going through under their particular circumstances. It all makes a great difference. Are you closed-minded or open-minded? It makes a difference.

- Kay

Posted 01/29/09 09:52 PM

Only 1% of abortions are due to rape or incest. So it’s basically a mute point, when you consider the millions of abortions done every year. Why aren’t you all discussing the real reasons for abortion?? Social reasons.

- Dee

Posted 02/06/09 11:59 AM

Why all the uproar about an ultrsound? If its just a “clump of cells” like groups like NARAL proclaim, than what is the problem? I’m pro-choice but I fail to see how this law invades a womans privacy? Its not like women are FORCED to look at the screen. I DO think a u/s should be required to be OFFERED but I think a woman should be able to refuse. If a woman is hellbent on doing this, and ultrasound sure as hell won’t change her mind. I have mixed feelings on this.

- SesshoumarusGirl

Posted 02/25/09 06:12 PM

For those who say “what about the rape victims” FYI, less than one percent of the nations abortions are done because “rape”. It is easier for a abortion to happen when the woman thinks of it as a clump of cells and not a face.

- Mark

Posted 03/13/09 11:23 PM

Why not? Why should we woman have the right to kill a baby in the first place? Think about it!

- mary

Posted 05/03/09 06:25 PM

Anyone who objects will only do so because actually seeing the person you are killing will make it so damned much harder to do. And before you all get all up in arms about the right to choose, I agree, we all have the right to choose. But that does not change the fact that you are murdering someone. It’s just that looking at that person will make the woman having the abortion less able to rationalize it away.

- Night

Posted 10/19/09 04:50 PM

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