Four bills have been introduced in the Virginia General Assembly that, if passed, would require that women seeking abortions first undergo an ultrasound.
NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia said in a statement, “Virginia women should have the option of an ultrasound if they request it or if their doctor recommends it. Politicians should not be allowed to put their agenda in the examining room with the doctor and the patient and add yet another financial and logistical obstacle for women seeking abortion care.”
One bill, introduced by Delegate Mark Cole (R), would require that women obtain an ultrasound 48 hours prior to having an abortion. The other bill introduced in the House of Delegates, filed by Delegate Kathy Byron (R), would require an ultrasound two hours prior. Two similar bills, introduced by Republican Senators Ralph Smith and Jill Vogel, were also introduced in the state Senate.
National Partnership for Women and Families 1/18/12; Suffolk News Herald 1/16/12; Statement of NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia 1/13/12
