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Louisiana Senate Overwhelmingly Advances Ultrasound Mandate for Abortion
Life Site News ^ | BATON ROUGE, Louisiana, May 20, 2010 | Peter J. Smith

Posted on 05/21/2010 1:02:32 PM PDT by GonzoII

Thursday May 20, 2010


Louisiana Senate Overwhelmingly Advances Ultrasound Mandate for Abortion

By Peter J. Smith

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana, May 20, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Senators in Louisiana overwhelmingly approved legislation on Tuesday that seeks to expand the requirements of informed consent by mandating abortionists perform an ultrasound on a mother seeking an abortion. The bill is similar to one that was recently passed in Oklahoma.

The Senate voted 33-4 for the bill (SB 528), which was sponsored by Sen. Sharon Broome (D-Baton Rouge), and developed with the aid of the Louisiana Right to Life Federation and the Bioethics Defense Fund. The law requires abortionists to perform an ultrasound on a woman at least two hours before she undergoes the induced abortion of her child, and before she is put under any kind of anesthesia.

The legislation that senators approved on Tuesday was a weakened version of the original bill developed by pro-life groups, which would have required abortionists to put the ultrasound screen in view of the woman, describe the ultrasound, and then hand her a copy of the ultrasound in a sealed envelope.

The Senate Health and Welfare Committee amended the bill so that the abortionist has to do the ultrasound, but only has to offer the women the opportunity to view the ultrasound, hear the explanation, and view the printout.

Benjamin Clapper, Director of Louisiana Right to Life, told LifeSiteNews.com (LSN) that they had some initial concerns about the changes that were happening in the committee’s version.

“We were worried that the fox is in charge of the henhouse, the abortionist has no interest in the woman seeing the ultrasound because that could hurt his business,” Clapper said.

However, a compromise was struck so that the bill defined the exact language that an abortionist has to say to the mother before performing the ultrasound.

Abortionists who break the law will be liable to civil penalties and disciplinary action by the state medical board.

The law also states that women should be given materials informing them of hospitals and other places that will offer them ultrasounds free of charge.

“So we consider this to be a double or a triple instead of a grand slam,” emphasized Clapper. “This is certainly a good bill, a good pro-life success, and it gives women in Louisiana considering an abortion the opportunity to have an ultrasound done, and see the ultrasound image of their child. But it is not everything we’d like it to be.”

Clapper said he expected the House to pass the bill.

“Hopefully many of the women will choose to view the ultrasound,” added Clapper, “be blown away by what’s inside of them, and turn towards life in this situation.”

URL: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/may/10052009.html


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TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Louisiana
KEYWORDS: biggovernment; mandate; prolife; ultrasound

I think this a great tool for the defense of life.

1 posted on 05/21/2010 1:02:32 PM PDT by GonzoII
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To: wagglebee

Ping.


2 posted on 05/21/2010 1:03:27 PM PDT by GonzoII ("That they may be one...Father")
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To: GonzoII

“I think this a great tool for the defense of life.”

When I observe how a mere puppy dog faces melt my wife’s heart, I cannot imagine such imagines not having an impact. Those opting to proceed with an abortion should be required to have a second viewing in which there’s a voiceover or dialog balloon coming from the baby “Mommy, why are you trying to kill me?”


3 posted on 05/21/2010 1:26:57 PM PDT by DrC
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To: DrC

Pelosi, Reid,and the rest of the pro-abortionists should be tied to a chair and made to watch A Silent Scream.

I am proud of what we just did in Louisiana for the innocents of the future. (Not a lot to be proud of these days)


4 posted on 05/21/2010 1:34:49 PM PDT by Bitsy
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To: GonzoII

That is very nice, but the Louisiana Senate pretty much votes for everything ‘unanimously’.

The dweebs that voted against it are:
Dorsey
Murray
Jackson
Peterson

SJVSB528 0518 674
SB 3rd & Final Subj to Call
SB 528 BY BROOME
ABORTION
EG GF EX See Note

AMENDMENT # 3423 BY HEITMEIER

YEAS
Mr. President Heitmeier Morrell
Dorsey Jackson Murray
Gautreaux B Kostelka Peterson
Total—9

NAYS
Adley Duplessis Mount
Alario Erdey Nevers
Amedee Gautreaux N Quinn
Appel Hebert Riser
Broome LaFleur Shaw
Chabert Long Smith
Cheek Martiny Thompson
Claitor McPherson Walsworth
Crowe Michot
Donahue Morrish
Total—28

ABSENT
Guillory Marionneaux
Total—2


SJVSB528 0518 675
SB 3rd & Final Subj to Call
SB 528 BY BROOME
ABORTION

EG GF EX See Note
FINAL PASSAGE
YEAS

Adley Erdey Michot
Alario Gautreaux B Morrell
Amedee Gautreaux N Morrish
Appel Guillory Mount
Broome Hebert Nevers
Chabert Heitmeier Quinn
Cheek Kostelka Riser
Claitor LaFleur Shaw
Crowe Long Smith
Donahue Martiny Thompson
Duplessis McPherson Walsworth
Total—33
NAYS

Dorsey Murray
Jackson Peterson
Total—4
ABSENT

Mr. President Marionneaux
Total—2


5 posted on 05/21/2010 2:44:52 PM PDT by Pikachu_Dad (Impeach Sen Quinn)
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To: GonzoII

Most abortionists already do ultrasounds... They tend to charge by the age of the baby.


6 posted on 05/21/2010 3:20:47 PM PDT by TASMANIANRED (Liberals are educated above their level of intelligence.. Thanks Sr. Angelica)
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