Corbett says he supports 'external' ultrasounds for abortion patients
Gov. Corbett says he supports mandatory ultrasounds for abortion patients, the subject of one of the controversial pieces of legislation before the General Assembly
Corbett says he supports 'external' ultrasounds for abortion patients
Gov. Corbett says he supports mandatory ultrasounds for abortion patients, the subject of one of the most controversial pieces of legislation before the General Assembly.
Corbett said Tuesday he would support a bill that would force doctors to show women an ultrasound before an abortion is performed as long as it was not "obtrusive."
When asked what he meant by that, Corbett said: "As long as it's on the exterior and not the interior."
While sponsor Rep. Kathy Rapp (R., Forest) said her bill would require only ultrasounds on the belly, the language of the bill suggests it could also mandate a vaginal ultrasound, if the embryo is too small to be seen. (For more background read Marie McCullough's piece in the Inquirer here.)
The bill, which passed out of a House committee last month, was scheduled for a vote on the House floor this week.
The vote was cancelled in the House after objections were made by the Pennsylvania Medical Society, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynocologists. House Majority leader Mike Turzai (R., Allegheny) said lawmakers needed more time to study the issue.
The issue has been a flashpoint across the nation as anti-abortion groups have pushed similar bills - with success - in dozens of other states. Abortion rights supporters view the laws as demeaning and unnecessary.
Planned Parenthood says belly ultrasounds are routinely conducted on patients, but are done to determine the age of the fetus and what procedure to use, not to make them change their mind.
Doonesbury cartoonist Garry Trudeau is the latest to weigh in with a series of strips on the ultrasound issue, sparking controversy that led to several newspapers, including the Patriot-News of Harrisburg, to suspend his strip.
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If a woman is denied the pill or any contraceptive by any organization including church affiliated Catholic hospitals - the woman should be allowed to have one federally funded free abortion. Pro choice doctors should have their college tuition reduced to increase the need of abortion doctors which are wanted. I also wonder why abortion (ABORTION) is not mentioned in the Bible - unless, of course we find scrolls that have just been unraveled for the very first time ever: Abort! Responsible Life - the right choice, the beautiful choice - unless, you are a Devout Catholic and stuck with the little bundle of unwanted love, that the US government will provide for in its socialistic programs, that so many complain about, but can never get enough of them!— Bob Washick- So much for small government. Conservatism is a myth. What it really is is a mental disorder. You get the government you vote for.— Bush Destroyed America
- when did pennsylvania become alabama.
- Every murderer should be forced to look at the vicitm before they kill them. Especially a baby too small to defend itself against the murderer.— kelprod2
- kelprod2: Cool. Every Republican should apologize for lying us into war and getting 5000 American troops killed. Then we should disband the Republican party. Deal.— Bush Destroyed America
- Apologizing is certainly the least that the people who lied us into war should do. But that's not the topic.
You can disagree with kelprod2, but he's taking the principled stand that follows from the belief that an aborted fetus is a person.
I do disagree with kelprod2, and support abortion rights. But nobody enjoys having an abortion. You're never going to hear a woman exclaim that she just had the greatest abortion.
In fact, that's why contraception is so important. And why people who oppose both abortion and contraception are such a puzzle. - The GOP: Government small enough to fit into your uterus!— Susie from Philly
- Of course he does. This latest assault on women's rights was crafted by the Republicans and the far-right, pro-life zealots. Corbett is a disgrace. I pray the PA legislature comes to its senses and kills this terrible bill.— Dupes1
- Bush...uh, you do remember the Iraq offensive received OVERWHELMING bi-partisan support. And for the record, I did not support GWB...but do strongly consider abortion a murder.
All murderers should be forced to see their victims before they kill them. Every women has a "choice"...the choice to be responsible when it comes to activity that results in pregnancy. Being an irresponsible person does not give one a free pass to being a murderer.— kelprod2 - With all due respect, kelprod2, a woman who is raped and becomes pregnant does *not* have a choice. There are too many ideological extremists on both sides of the issue and not enough common sense and willingness to accept the gray zones that sometimes happen in life.
— JChris - Of course he does. This latest assault on women's rights was crafted by the Republicans and the far-right, pro-life zealots. Corbett is a disgrace. I pray the PA legislature comes to its senses and kills this terrible bill.— Dupes1
- @bob washick...no one is ever denied contraception - it is available at all clinics and planned parenthood for free. if you're too lazy to go there, head to target and it's $9 a month. but no organization should be made to pay for a woman's choice.— redcellar77
- @dupes1...there is no assault on women's rights - this coming from a woman. if i choose to stop the natural process of being fertile (which isn'ta malady) then i have no problem paying for the medication to do so. it's my choice and i'm responsible enough to accept the cost of it. i don't have the audacity to demand it be paid for by someone other than me, even though most insurance companies cover birth control. this is a false argument crafted by dems to divert attention from the real issue: steamrolling the first amendment.— redcellar77
- "stop the natural process of being fertile"? Is that meant to lump abortion and contraception together?
They're night and day. If you're really opposed to abortion -- and not just supporting policies that shame and control women -- you should support contraception. - Oh great. The big GOP overreach of 2012 is headed to another Commonwealth. He wants to impose more regulations on women than he requires for gas drillers. A beaut, Corbett be.— bobcitydoc
