This is an ultrasound of an eight week fetus.

When a woman wants to abort a fetus because of an unwanted pregnancy there is absolutely no reason to have an ultrasound done.  


The only diagnosis that needs to be made is the presence of a pregnancy and that can be obtained with absolute accuracy through serum specimens.


The laws the radical right legislatures are passing is harassment of women.  There is absolutely no medical standard that demands an ultrasound to validate a pregnancy.  There is no 'informed consent' law that demands every person that signs a consent has to have intimate knowledge of the body part being treated.  


In other words, does a patient with brain cancer have to understand an image of the tumor before signing informed consent.  Informed consent is entered into by physicians as a witness to the fact he or she has given them all the necessary information regarding their treatment.  The most important aspect of informed consent is the potential side effects of a person's treatment.  For a patient with a brain tumor that submits to chemotherapy there are understood outcomes and understood side effects, that is the definition LEGALLY of informed consent.

By Michael Bodine
Capital News Service

RICHMOND, Va. – The much-debated bill(click title to entry - thank you) that requires ultrasound testing before abortions has been signed into law by Gov. Bob McDonnell.

The bill, proposed by Delegate Kathy Byron, R-Lynchburg, has been among the most hotly contested social issues in this year’s General Assembly. It even sparked national criticism.

McDonnell signed House Bill 462 into law on Wednesday. Because the measure was amended multiple times, it first had to endure two votes from each house of the General Assembly this session.

After signing the legislation, McDonnell issued a statement that acknowledged both sides of the mandatory-ultrasound debate. He also stated why he saw it as a necessary measure....

The bills passed into law by extremist right wing legislators are a burden to women.  A woman's integrity is assaulted by this legislation.  These laws are without moral, ethical or medical basis.  These are religious endeavors that insult the USA Constitution while attempting to break down the separation of church and state.


The reason this continues is because the Social Conservatives have been pandered to for their votes and their monies for a very long time by Republican politicians.  They sincerely want this country in lock step with evangelical christian dogma at any cost as part of their promise to god.  The USA and its moral content has been a bargaining chip for Republicans. The social conservatives are tired of waiting and this is exactly what is transpiring.


I mean it sincerely when I state this is unethical legislation.  It removes the basis of a woman's right to direct her own conscience, her relationship with god/spirituality and be master of her future and the well being of whatever children she chooses to give birth to in or out of a relationship with another person.  THAT is unethical.  Taking away self determination and free will from women is unethical practice of the law.


The laws assault a woman's spiritual relationship with her god.  Just because the state condemns her freedom to decide and secures the life of a fetus, does not make her a moral person in the eyes of those seeking to call the USA redeemed of all its sins.  God is a the only determining factor in that relationship and that is completely intangible regardless of the preacher or the Pope.


So, the fact there is a separation of church and state is a matter of fact and not fantasy.  The USA Constitution cannot, no matter how any prosecutor tries, jail  a woman for her thoughts and if those thoughts betray her relationship with god that cannot be litigate.  If anyone believes it can be litigated they can be referred to the Salem Witch Trials as proof.


It is immoral to put one life already in process ahead of one that is not.  That's right, IMMORAL.  It is like treating women as though they are giving birth to a litter and the life of the bitch is less valuable than the puppies.  


A woman has a right to self-determination and that includes the relationship with god, the time she chooses to have children and not have children.   


The legislation enacted in the states by extremist right wing lawmakers is immoral, unethical and have no, absolutely NO medical basis to exist.  The laws are unconstitutional and violate current precedent, however, the extremist right wing is counting on corruption in the Supreme Court to rid this country of its democracy at any cost.


Did I mention the legislation is sexist?