"Critics consider the proposal a tool to intimidate women who already have made an agonizing decision."

That is how I see forcing a woman to have an ultrasound and then forcing her to look at it. I wish all states had informed consent laws before an adoption.

I wish all states had informed consent laws before an adoption.

Agreed on that point Jan!

I guess I do not agree...

"Women are intelligent and thoughtful human beings who would not go forward if they did not think this was in their best interest," Siler said. "

If thats true then will it REALLY change any woman's mind who has carefully considered and has made her decision?
It might seem like an extra hassle, but what if it does help a few here and there who might NOT understand or have been fully informed, from making a choice for themselves that they may later regret?
Again that extra step might seem like a hassle, but it might actually work to help preserve a woman's right to her decision by making sure that she understands the full impact to HER life (as in not just a generic learning of fetal development, but learning of HER fetus's development). If you do not fully know all your OWN details how can you be completely sure for YOURSELF?
I would not want a woman to sign adoption papers without being fully informed of how it will effect HER as an individual, so I guess I would want a woman considering abortion to understand her own unique situation fully entails, and not just a random explaination of generic details.

I think that aw is horrible!!! As we all know, I was going to terminate pregnancy with Brenna, had I not been so far along. But thinking back, I am glad that I was too far. I am still very much pro-choice, but after seeing my name in big black bold lettering right next to the word abortion in all the same font, my heart just sank. I think it's horrible. NO woman wakes up one day and decides to get pregnant and have an abortion. It's a tough enough decision, then to be forced to look at an ultrasound and hear the heartbeat? No way. I think it's cruel to think people would force women to do something like that. Do they not think that we have already thought long and hard to get the the agonizing decision? I am so angered that a bill could even get this much attention thus far. Just cruel

We aren't animals w/ utertuses. This decision is extremely painful and diffucult for every woman.

Update: The vote was today and it passed through the House and now has to be voted on by the Senate. The governor is behind it big time too. It will most likely pass.

I am 100 percent prolife and I think women should be educated more before they get an abortion. I know I am not part of the popular belief among the replies, but I hope that if women see the picture of the baby they are going to abort,they will change their minds. I believe life begins at conception.

Good old South Carolina, my old home state and site of my relinquishment. So, they want women to have at least an hour to think about abortion, yet they allow you to sign adoption papers the second you push out the kid.

I see a disconnect.

Quote: "Women are intelligent and thoughtful human beings who would not go forward if they did not think this was in their best interest," Siler said.

While I agree that women are intelligent, thoughtful beings, who try to make decisions (generally) in their best interests, I DISAGREE with the implication that they always DO make the best decision.

I disagree because I believe that women in crisis pregnancies are just that, in crisis, and being in crisis can really screw up your thought process.

Therefore, I'm sure there are some women who have abortions who really shouldn't have, and who really wouldn't have, if they'd had more support, more information, and more time to consider. Just like I believe there are some women who relinquish who shouldn't have and wouldn't have, if they'd had more support, information, and time to consider.

All that being said... I am totally and completely for informed consent. I believe women considering abortion AND women considering adoption should be given all kinds of information before they make their final decision. HOWEVER: I am not convinced that an ultrasound picture qualifies as "information." Or at least, not the kind of "information" that should fall under and informed consent law.

I'm against it.

Good old South Carolina, my old home state and site of my relinquishment. So, they want women to have at least an hour to think about abortion, yet they allow you to sign adoption papers the second you push out the kid.

I see a disconnect.

Totally Heather! Why do they think abortion is so life altering and adoption isn't????

am totally and completely for informed consent. I believe women considering abortion AND women considering adoption should be given all kinds of information before they make their final decision.

Totally agree with you on that one Nicole! Both scenarios should require informed consent.

So, if you are considering abortion you should NOT see the baby and take any more time before making the decision. . . but when chosing adoption you SHOULD see the baby and have alot more time to consider the adoption?
I don't get it, isn't it the same baby no matter what you choose?

Honestly I do not even know WHY women are actually COMPARING abortion to ADOPTION, it makes me angry. In one of these senarios a child's life is ended.

True, but it seems like the birthmother's life as the legal parent of that child ends with adoption...
It's more painful than people think it is, it seems...Maybe not enough attention is paid to that. There really are no easy solutions or answers...
I think something like making them look at the ultrasound would rub salt into their wounds in a way.

Honestly I do not even know WHY women are actually COMPARING abortion to ADOPTION, it makes me angry. In one of these senarios a child's life is ended.

I think because they are both so life altering to the birthmother but I see your point.

So, if you are considering abortion you should NOT see the baby and take any more time before making the decision. . . but when chosing adoption you SHOULD see the baby and have alot more time to consider the adoption?

I think you should take lots of time with both situations.

So, if you are considering abortion you should NOT see the baby and take any more time before making the decision. . . but when chosing adoption you SHOULD see the baby and have alot more time to consider the adoption?
I don't get it, isn't it the same baby no matter what you choose?

I don't have a problem with a waiting time being legislated.

And actually, I do think some women would benefit from seeing an ultrasound before deciding on abortion, so I hope some of them do that. Just like I think women benefit from seeing/caring for their child post-birth, before deciding on adoption--and I hope they do that, too.

But I don't think seeing the ultrasound pic nor seeing your child post-birth should be legislated.

It's not the law's place.

Deb,
Don't forget that not everyone believes that "life" begins at conception.