An Oklahoma County District Judge has blocked enforcement of a new state law that would require abortion clinics to provide each woman with an explained ultrasound image of her unborn child.
Each description would include fetal dimensions, age and whether a heartbeat, limbs and organs are present. Abortion supporters fought the law as “emotionally abusive.” The NY Center for Reproductive Rights challenged the law’s constitutionality using various arguments:
- that women might be forced to hear irrelevant medical info;
- that women are capable of caring for themselves;
- that the law violates doctor’s free speech rights.
But consider how ridiculous such complaints are in any other medical context– like cancer or even a “wanted” pregnancy with complications. Physicians outside the abortion arena do not withhold test results (more…)