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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums'We Have No Choice': One Woman's Ordeal with Texas' New Sonogram Law
'We Have No Choice': One Woman's Ordeal with Texas' New Sonogram LawThe painful decision to terminate a pregnancy is nowthanks to Texas' harsh new lawjust the beginning of the torment.
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Halfway through my pregnancy, I learned that my baby was ill. Profoundly so. My doctor gave us the news kindly, but still, my husband and I werent prepared. Just a few minutes earlier, wed been smiling giddily at fellow expectant parents as we waited for the doctor to see us. In a sonography room smelling faintly of lemongrass, Id just had gel rubbed on my stomach, just seen blots on the screen become tiny hands. For a brief, exultant moment, wed seen our sona brother for our 2-year-old girl.
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My counselor said that the law required me to have another ultrasound that day, and that I was legally obligated to hear a doctor describe my baby. Id then have to wait 24 hours before coming back for the procedure. She said that I could either see the sonogram or listen to the babys heartbeat, adding weakly that this choice was mine.
I dont want to have to do this at all, I told her. Im doing this to prevent my babys suffering. I dont want another sonogram when Ive already had two today. I dont want to hear a description of the life Im about to end. Please, I said, I cant take any more pain. I confess that I dont know why I said that. I knew it was fait accompli. The counselor could no more change the government requirement than I could. Yet here was a superfluous layer of torment piled upon an already horrific day, and I wanted this woman to know it.
We have no choice but to comply with the law, she said, adding that these requirements were not what Planned Parenthood would choose. Then, with a warmth that belied the materials in her hand, she took me through the rules. First, she told me about my rights regarding child support and adoption. Then she gave me information about the state inspection of the clinic. She offered me a pamphlet called A Womans Right to Know, saying that it described my babys development as well as how the abortion procedure works. She gave me a list of agencies that offer free sonograms, and which, by law, have no affiliation with abortion providers. Finally, after having me sign reams of paper, she led me to the doctor whod perform the sonography, and later the termination.
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http://www.texasobserver.org/cover-story/the-right-not-to-know
LanternWaste
(37,748 posts)This law will inevitably be overturned... quite soon, I'd guess. But that this law exists in the first place, and exists in 2012, and exists in a relatively free country boggles my mind.
Old and In the Way
(37,540 posts)The consequences of these laws will be reverberating until sanity prevails and we start throwing out religious fanatics who masquerade as legislators.
immoderate
(20,885 posts)You can't satirize this.
--imm
Rex
(65,616 posts)Funny, I thought this was the 21st century...guess not. So when do we go back to burning witches and hunting for superstitious behavor? I saw my neighbor talking to his dog yesterday! BURN HIM!!!
Skittles
(153,174 posts)this is bullshit
JBoy
(8,021 posts)This must be counter to the "do no harm" part of physicians' oaths. It sure as hell does no good.
These laws mandate psychological, if not physical, harm.
cynatnite
(31,011 posts)If they aren't careful, they can open themselves up to lawsuits. All it takes is one doctor to speak out and a patient of theirs to see him or her on TV or read about them. Even a vague story could get them in loads of trouble.
Not only that, medical personnel have been murdered and assaulted. Clinics have been bombed and set on fire.
They also have organizations like NAF, ACOG and others to be their voices as well.
Skittles
(153,174 posts)being forced to do something neither the doctor nor the patient wants? WTF!!!
bluedeminredstate
(3,322 posts)There is quite a long thread of comments with most of the posters arguing with one sanctimonious asshole who says this law is helpful to women because it gives them information they otherwise would not have.
In the script that the doctor must read to the patient there is a statement that abortion can cause breast cancer and infertility. So not only are doctors forced to read a script, but the information is wrong!
erinlough
(2,176 posts)A good set of ear phones and the loudest music I could find. The doctor may have to read it, but I wouldn't listen. I still think it is crap.
excuse not to write
(147 posts)baldguy
(36,649 posts)When a doctor CHOOSES to commit cruelties on his patients rather than medically treating them, he ceases being a doctor. I don't care what the fucking law says!
PeaceVet
(2 posts)How can Christians, especially Catholics, be against insurance covering birth control? How can Christians oppose Family Planning?
Is their logic so convoluted that they cannot see that restricting Family Planning and birth control leads to more abortions, not fewer? All we need are more unwanted pregnancies producing more unwanted children. Especially when, "A study of convicted killers reports 83.8% suffered severe physical and emotional abuse and 32.2% were sexually violated as children (Blake, 1995) " http://www.annafoundation.org/wchac-ststs.pdf. That is correct, over 80% of the violent criminals in our prisons were abused as children. It is clear that the vast majority of abused children were not really wanted in the first place.
Now the Christians want to restrict access to birth control in a world that is being over populated and natural resources are being depleted! Malthusian economics may prove to be true after all, not because of the natural order of things, but because so many are illogical.
Peace, Terry J DuBose
cali
(114,904 posts)everyone should read this and our voices should rise to the stratosphere against this heinous cruelty and abridgement of our rights.
God fucking damnit.