Which is why
I’ve been interested in the recent debate that has sprung up in which some
states have moved to make ultrasounds part of the abortion service provision. Currently, 12 states require that a woman
undergo verbal counseling and receive written materials on how to access
ultrasound services. 3 states mandate
the provider to not only perform an ultrasound, but show and explain the images
to women prior to performing the abortion.
10 more states require the provider to perform an ultrasound and then
ask the woman if she wants to see the
photos.
Those that
are pro-life feel that if a woman sees a sonogram of her unborn baby, she’ll
want to carry the baby to term. A recent
study by the Obstetrics and Gynecology Association partially supported that
theory. Although the study found that sonogram
photos did not sway the decision of those women who said they were “certain”
they wanted an abortion, it did sway the decision of those women who said they
were “uncertain” if they wanted an abortion or not. In the majority of cases, those that said
they were uncertain prior to seeing the sonogram photos, ended up carrying the
baby to term after seeing the photos.Those that are pro-choice say this is an attempt by the pro-life side to “shame” woman who seek abortions. They also argue that this is a major violation of the women’s right to privacy and that whether or not to have an ultrasound performed should be the decision of the woman and her doctor.
Next week, we
will be discussing our Constitutional rights and freedoms (my favorite class,
btw!). We will learn why the right to privacy
in America is an implied right rather than an enumerated one. I’m interested in
knowing your thoughts on the topic, so my question to you this week is, “What
do you think about requiring ultrasounds to be performed and shown to women
seeking abortion? Does it help save the
life of an unborn baby, or does it violate a woman’s right to make decisions
about her own body?” Answers are due no
later than Monday, November 24th, 2014. As for me, I don’t care whether I have a
niece or nephew coming – I just want a healthy baby, which I love already –
even if I can’t see anything but static!
I agree with the can't see anything but static, my sister is having another baby, a girl, but whenever she shows me ultrasound pictures i just see blobs. Anyways my stand on this is I think this should be a requirement. This will obviously help pro life, but I believe everyone should have a chance at life, even if the mother would choose to have it adopted it would still be given a chance to live. I honestly do not see how this goes against women's rights, it can just be something that is required. I honestly think this could help save babies from being aborted.
ReplyDeleteWow, another touchy subject, personally I believe that it is stepping over the boundries of privacy, and the woman's right to choose whether or not to have an abortion, I believe that it is truly her decision, there are many different circumstance that had led her there in the first place, maybe it's a medical reason, maybe she knows if the child would be carried to term it wouldn't have a good life, I really don't want to sound this way, but it's better to end it before it changes from a blob to something that resembles a human and subject the child to abuse from not being wanted in the first place.
ReplyDeleteI feel forcing women to see the ultrasound will not change anything. They have already made up their minds and know the decision they are making. I am not a fan of abortions, but I also cant speak for other women nor do I know their situations.
ReplyDeleteDoing ultrasounds on women seeking abortion is not totally bad, but if a woman has her mind made up abut having an abortion doctors shouldn't force ultrasounds. However it could help save a fetus from being aborted. After an ultrasound is done a mother could change her mind and keep the baby instead, after she hears the first heartbeat.
ReplyDeleteHaving an abortion is not an easy thing to do and also there are chances that she damage her womb by doing the abortion and killing the baby inside her body and its not like we can force people to do what is right or wrong and people are entitled to their own opinion and make the decision they want either right or wrong. It's the woman's choice and she probably might have a reason for doing it.
ReplyDeleteHonestly i think it could change a womens mind about abortion but at the same time it cant. Depending on that persons situation maybe seeing and hearing the babies heart beat and so forth will change her mind. But at the sametime she could have the choice to get an abortion for personal reasons, for example financial reasons maybe she isnt financially ready to raise a child on her own or she doesnt have the help she think she will need to be the mother she wants to be. its alot of different reasons why a women wants to make that decision.
ReplyDeleteI think revealing the gender of the baby to a women wanting an abortion is a sorry attempt to yet again try and make decisions for women. This is a way to influence a women based on if she wanted a boy or girl. I believe that its the woman's body and their choice. You never know their reasons for getting an abortion weather it be from rape, just too young, or anything. At the end of the day its their life, their the ones carrying, and giving birth to the child.
ReplyDeleteI think requiring an ultrasound before an abortion is definitely an attempt to sway the decision of the "uncertain" women out there who are unsure of what to do. If an ultrasound is required because of a life-threatening or health related issue involving the woman, then I would say it would be okay. However, using this as a means to keep women from making their own, unbiased decision is wrong and I don't agree with it at all. Every single woman on this earth should have the right to make their own decisions about their own bodies!!!
ReplyDeleteI think if the woman is uncertain than it's a good idea she see the baby in an ultra sound and if you are certain you want to get an abortion so certain that nothing will change your mind than it shouldn't matter what the laws are. I do not support abortions to a certain extent in special cases where a woman has been taken advantage of or is unfit for motherhood as in unable to support a baby finically, mentally or physically. It's for the best. As for teen pregnancy or adults not using protection I don't think abortion is the right answer or the only option. You made the choice to have sex and sex with out protection knowing the repercussions and having an abortion on those terms is irresponsible. If you have the means to raise a child take responsibility. I think this could save a life not just a baby. It's easy to say fetus or baby as if it were an object. We all start out as babies I think we forget about the life itself. Growing up, holidays, learning to ride a bike, a first love. I think the people (i say people because it's not just woman this affects and it isn't always her choice) that choose abortions are denying a life except for those special cases.
ReplyDeleteWhat a woman does to her body is her choice. I would rather not see of hear of healthy fetuses being aborted, but it is still the woman's right in my opinion. They should ask the woman if they want an ultrasound not force her to take one. Maybe there are mitigating circumstances for the abortion. Maybe she is ashamed of being raped and doesn't want anybody to know. All in all I feel that it is her right to have an abortion without having an ultrasound being thrust upon her. People need to respect the rights of others and worry about themselves. It is no ones business but the woman and possibly the father, depending on the circumstances. My opinion is to stay out of peoples' personal lives unless you are invited!
ReplyDeleteif the woman does not ask for an ultrasound why give it to her. If she is uncertain about aborting that means she might have an 85% chance of not doing it, that is the woman you counsel and give an ultrasound. If they are sure they want to abort then a static picture wont change their mind. "If I don't want it in my body, what makes you think I want to see it." Those women make those decisions based on their circumstances, we don't know their life stories so lets not judge or force decisions and solutions on them. So seeing an ultrasound should be a woman's choice.
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ReplyDeleteI actually agree with both statements. Yes I think it could help save the life of a fetus, I also think it is a violation of a women's rights. I think this is one of the only current controversial topics where I can't really pick a side. I completely believe that it is or should be every woman's right to make her own decisions about her own body, but then again, shouldn't it also be kind of a human right to not be killed all of the sudden? I mean assuming that however small the fetus might be, it is still already a living human thing, doesn't give it some kind of rights?
ReplyDeleteI think the ideal solution in my opinion would be that any rape victim could have an abortion no questions asked, but that any "non rape victim" should be strongly advised an ultrasound first (strongly advised, not required by law). I also think it is very important to have the abortion as soon as possible, if the woman has totally made up her mind. I think it should b completely illegal to abort a fetus older than 8 weeks. I think 8 weeks should give one enough time to find out the fact that you are pregnant, and decide whether or not you want to keep the baby.
So on one hand, I consider myself a feminist and I am completely for a woman's right to decide and have full control over her own body, but on the other hand: to me being a feminist is basically believing that we should all be equal. I don't think that women are or should be superior to men, I just think we should be equal. So with equality in mind, why should a woman's right to choose trump a baby's right to live?
I think what a woman does with her body is her choice no one elses. However, I think it's a good idea if a woman is certain to be explained what can and cannot happen. I think if the woman is 100% certain then she shouldn't be explained anything.
ReplyDeleteI definitely do not believe in abortion but she is carrying that child for the rest of her life. So I dont think it should be up to anybody but her to make the decision.
I think if a woman decides to have 5 kids, pop them out and give them away her tubes need to be tied but no abortions.
-Christina Padro
I can see it both ways:
ReplyDeleteI do not see a problem with the doctors requiring an ultra sound prior to the birth. I think it is important that the woman understand the reality and how serious their decision is.
On the other hand- the woman still has the right to make the decision on whether she wants to abort the baby or not.
I think it could change the woman's mind but that would not be a bad thing in my opinion. That could be the doctors opportunity to suggest another option.
I think it is an swell idea for a woman have to get an ultrasound before getting an abortion performed on her. Simply because I am against abortions and would push the idea of adoption as much as I can. Viewing the ultrasound can trigger the emotions in a woman and may make her rethink her decision to abort a human being that wasn't even given the chance.
ReplyDeleteI believe that it is all about the woman's decision and what she feels best about doing. If a woman doesn't want an ultrasound, it should not be forced upon her. I think that it most violates a woman's rights if she is forced to have an ultrasound done without consent. Their body, their choice.
ReplyDelete“What do you think about requiring ultrasounds to be performed and shown to women seeking abortion? Does it help save the life of an unborn baby, or does it violate a woman’s right to make decisions about her own body?”
ReplyDeleteHonestly I think that a ultrasound is a good idea but for them to show the woman the pictures when they for sure want an abortion I don't think is right. I mean it's the woman's choice if she wants an abortion. I believe that there should not be a say on a woman's body. She can do want she wants with it. I understand both sides of pro-choice and pro-life but really if it was me and people were telling me what was best for me would upset me. It's my body I can do what I want with it. If abortions were not available women would be doing underground abortions and those are much more dangerous than normal abortions, causing more deaths than anything. What about the women that are raped and become pregnant...they don't want to carry something that reminds them of that time. Abortion is a very broad topic and is very emotional. Some day I hope we all compromise choose what is best for the woman.
I can definitely make the comfortable assumption that having a woman have an ultrasound before she gets an abortion will stop some of them to not have the abortion. It makes a really demoralizing effect by showing you what you're going to kill by showing you that it's a living thing. I think it's kind of wrong to make them have it. It can skew the thoughts and won't let the lady decide what to do with her body but it's doesn't "all the way" cross the line.
ReplyDeleteI believe that if a woman wants to gets an abortion, it's her choice ... even though I'm personally against abortion itself, but all in all it is her choice . she should not be chestized with a ultra sound....
ReplyDeleteI mean personally, yeah, I think the rule that a woman has to see and hear every detail about her fetus is a pro-life rule in an attempt to sway the woman's decision to abort. However, at the same time it is important that a woman knows how far along she is and how the procedure would work and exactly what she's doing. But no, I don't think she should have to look at photos. Even if the woman knows that in the long run it would be best not to have it, being pregnant, scared, and in a hospital room can make her feel vulnerable and in that moment she may get cold feet and back out.
ReplyDeleteIf a woman is in her first 20 weeks of pregnancy and is in the stage where an abortion would work, then why must she have to endure every detail of the fetus and images? I think that's crossing a line and violating her privacy. The only purpose of that is an attempt to change her mind and keep the baby, which should be illegal. An unplanned pregnancy and an abortion is hard enough on the woman so why drag it out and try to shame her choice and guilt her? The only time a woman should be forced to see images of her fetus is if she walks into the clinic in her third trimester of pregnancy, in which case the doctor can say, "Ma'am, you have an almost fully developed baby in you, we can't abort it." Other than that, an abortion should just be done if the woman wants it, no questions asked.
I think its a good idea to have women get an ultrasound before an abortion. It will achieve a number of things. First it will show if there are any abnormalities with the baby, and second it will give emotional appeal that might change the mothers mind. It does not violate any rights or freedom to do what they want with their bodies its just a procedure to inspect their unborn in case something is wrong.
ReplyDelete