If you haven’t noticed by now, I am following the great ultrasound debate in my state regarding a law that South Carolina law makers are trying to pass. Source

If this bill is passed and becomes a law it would require women seeking an abortion to view ultrasound photos of their baby before moving forward with an abortion and to sign a document saying they had done so. If passed, this would be the first law of its kind requiring a woman to view the ultrasound photos. Other states have laws requiring a woman to be given the option of viewing the photos, but not requiring them.

Currently, South Carolina already has an informed consent law which requires that abortion providers tell a woman seeking an abortion, the approximate gestational age of her baby, provide her with information on fetal development, and offer alternatives to abortion. Then the current law requires a woman to have at least one hour to think about the information before ending her pregnancy.

The bill has created a lot of talk and debate. Supporters of the bill say that after seeing the ultrasound photos of the baby and the heartbeat, they would not have an abortion and instead choose parenting or adoption. Critics consider the proposal a tool to intimidate women who already have made an agonizing decision.

In my update on March 30th, the bill had passed through the House and was on its way to the Senate. The Senate has voted and rejected the bill as is. The Senate proposes to soften the bill and would be more in line with other states by providing a woman seeking an abortion with the option of viewing ultrasound photos but not requiring her to do so. The full Senate will be debating the revisions in the next week and then sending the revised bill back to the House for the House to then vote.

Once again, I will keep you updated.

--
Sources:
The State
The Charlotte Observer