Today, Senator Clay Scofield released a statement outlining some of the details of SB12. Some opponents of efforts to fully inform women have resorted to equating the use of one of the most common ultrasound devices found in any obstetrician’s office to rape. Not only are these allegations silly but they undermine the work this bill does to protect the sanctity of life and the safety of women.
Last legislative session, I sponsored SB 308 which required physicians to perform an ultrasound prior to performing an abortion – medical emergencies and miscarriages being the exceptions. Similarly, in the 2012 legislative session, I have again sponsored this same bill, now SB 12.
Unlike last legislative session, the Right to Know and See Act has garnered a lot more attention, some negative and some positive. While this is the same bill that passed the Alabama Senate with overwhelming support just one year ago, and has been pre-filed since June of 2011, many have jumped at the chance to criticize this legislation and create a media frenzy over portions of the bill, as well as distribute misinformation.
The two main criticisms of this legislation focus on whether an invasive ultrasound method will be forced on a woman, and the assertion by some that this law will be applicable in the case of a miscarriage.
While it was my intent that the method of ultrasound would be a choice, I am committed to amending this law to specify that it is the woman’s choice which method of ultrasound that she would be more comfortable with. Further, this bill was never intended to include cases of a miscarriage or other preterm delivery. In an effort to clear up any confusion regarding miscarriages, i will also be offering amendments which will reinforce this exception.
Other detractors of the bill have falsely stated that the bill requires the woman to look at the ultrasound. This is simply not the case. On the contrary the bill provides the woman the explicit ability not to see the ultrasound.
It is my hope that by clarifying the exceptions and offering patient choice regarding ultrasound that this bill will receive the same support from the men and women of the senate that it received last year. I want to offer legislation that will simultaneously protect life and and shows respect and compassion towards women. We just want women to have the right information at their disposal to make an informed decision.
- Clay Scofield
“…offering patient choice….” How about offering the patient a choice to NOT receive a procedure that is not medically necessary? How about offering physicians a choice of how they treat patients.
You went to medical school where? Just curious about where you got your medical information since you’re convinced you’re so informed and know what’s best for the medical care of women in Alabama.
Lisbeth, Are you kidding? Have you bought a car or home lately? The state mandates more forms and disclosures than you can imagine and for good reason; the person making you fill out the forms has a profit motive and consumer protection is fundamental state interest.
The abortionist who takes your $1000 to perform an abortion is no more “your” doctor than the car salesman is.
Further, when making a major purchase, you have 3 days to back out. When making an abortion choice, you are by definition, “in crisis”. Saying girls as young as 12 years old (even 18 years old), in crisis, should be aborting and that the state has no duty regulating those abortionists because they are “your doctor” is ridiculous. You don’t have to go to medical school to understand that.
At a routine doctor visit on June 20, 1977, after being told I was pregnant, I was given a tissue to wipe my tears and a piece of paper with the phone number of an abortion clinic in Homewood. I asked about adoption but was told that it wasn’t an option. I walked in a dazed despair, unable to think clearly – afraid and alone. How I wish someone had shown me what was going on inside my body. How I wish I had been told that I did have a choice. How I wish someone had told me that for many years I’d experience severe depression and frequently consider suicide. How I wish someone had told me that for many months I would write letters to my unborn baby. How I wish someone had told me that my agony would be worse after giving birth to my first beautiful daughter.
Millions of women have publicly acknowledged that they regret their abortions and many more suffer in silence, as I did for many years. Women deserve and should demand to know every element of information necessary to make a decision that will affect her for the rest of her life. Thank you for SB12, Senator Schofield! Please let me know if there is anything I can do to assist in the passage of this bill.
Thank you, Alabama senate, for being more interested in protecting a women’s right to KNOW more than political correctness. It is an honor to be your constituent!
A woman’s right to know that their is indeed a fetus inside her? I feel our State Government might think their female constituents aren’t very smart if they feel the need to reinforce to a pregnant woman that she is indeed pregnant. I would assume that tiny fact has been indeed very evident if a woman is now sitting in a clinic to receive an abortion.
If it’s the woman who stands to benefit from an ultrasound, let it be the woman who decides to have one – not the government. If the argument to that is that a woman don’t have the right information at their disposal before making their decision to abort (this somehow being an ultrasound image?), then perhaps we should be focusing our efforts on promoting a better safe-sex awareness within our schools to help our future generations rather than forcing medical procedures upon the masses of pregnant woman because a select few never got the sex talk.
I didn’t go to medical school but I know that abortion is detrimental to the health of a fetus. I used to be a fetus. How about you?