The Idaho Senate is set to vote on its mandatory ultrasound bill (SB 1387) and may do so as early as tomorrow — March 19. And yes, there’s enough transvaginal probing for the whole family:
Today’s party-line vote followed emotional debate that had proponents waving graphic pictures of aborted fetuses and opponents questioning the legality and redundancy of the proposal.
Backers of the legislation said they spoke on behalf of the unborn in support of a measure that would help women make informed decisions and ultimately reduce the number of abortions.
Critics of the measure called on lawmakers to trust the intelligence of women and their ability to make personal medical decisions. They asked them to uphold patient privacy acts and reminded the committee that passage of the law would constitute undue burden and government interference in the lives of women who may have to undergo two ultrasounds. One physician said the measure would set precedence in mandating a medical procedure.
The 7-2 vote fell along party lines.
The measure comes on the heels of 2007 legislation that enacted informed consent laws and leaves the ultrasound method up to the doctor. Ketchum Democratic Sen. Michelle Stennett questioned whether the bill would supersede existing law and noted the women in the early stages of pregnancy would be forced to have a transvaginal ultrasound.
“I’m trying to think of any other required medical procedure. The only one I can think of is a blood draw when someone refuses a breathalyzer,” she said.
Stacey Harder with Stanton Healthcare, an anti-abortion pregnancy crisis center, told lawmakers she represents the demographic the bill targets and said Senate Bill 1387 would guide her and others in making health care decisions.
“I believe an ultrasound would help me make an informed decision,” she said.
But proponents say the measure questions women’s intelligence and ability to make decisions on their own.
“It does not help women. It shames and demeans women who are seeking the health care they need,” said Hannah Brass, legislative director of Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest, a lobbying branch of Planned Parenthood.
Brass said the bill places undue burden on women, especially those who are poor or living in rural areas, and mandates a medical procedure for political rather than medical reasons.
Huston Republican Sen. Patti Anne Lodge said the legislation would get women “into a life-affirming environment so she could get the counseling she needs.”
But Lodge noted the bill doesn’t exempt victims of rape or incest.
“I just think there are some points in this that would make it difficult for someone who has gone through rape or incest to go through a dual procedure,” Lodge said.
“It seems to me that physicians have always been open with women about their options. This seems to be an intrusion on the privacy of a patient and a physician,” Pocatello Democrat Sen. Edgar Malepeai said before moving to hold the bill.
Hey Idahoans! If you believe that unnecessary medical procedures and forced vaginal probing do not a “life-affirming environment” make, contact your representative or Governor Otter.
RH Reality Check has extensive contact information.
[cross-posted at ABLC]
Yevgraf
The Soviet Union had it right on the mental health commitments of dogmatic religionists.
dogwood
I’m in Idaho, and this thing is gonna pass and get signed.
General Stuck (Bravo Nope Zero)
This is the thing that more doctors should be speaking out against, not only from ethical reasons, but for obvious intervention of fat republican lawmakers playing doctor without a license, so to speak. It seems to me a profoundly outrageous overreach that doctors should be wailing about coast to coast.
Uncle Cosmo
Someone needs to file a bill in one of these
retirement homes for failed comediansstate legislatures, that any legislator who votes for such an overwhelmingly stupid bill have her/his skull fastened at the focus of a badly shielded X-ray machine & the button repeatedly pressed until what passes for a brain inside is reduced to tofu custard.Lurker
@Uncle Cosmo:
Nice thought, but I think these lawmakers already have tofu custard for brains.
marv
Republicans to women: “You can have your uterus back when you pry it from my cold, dead…” Come to think of it, there is a certain something or other (I can’t think of the right term – fuckedupness maybe?)to crazy Republicans clinging to women’s uteri as passionately as they do to their guns (or more accurately, prolly, their “guns”).
WyldPirate
@Lurker:
Fixed.
Brian
Do the R’s have no originality from state to state at all? They seem to just take the most bigoted thing they can get passed in one state and try it everywhere else.
Problem is ignorant ass people vote for them thinking theirs aren’t as bad as those other ones.
rikyrah
GOP WAR ON WOMEN
Yutsano
Idaho has two undercurrents that will make this pass with barely a noise from the populace: a large Mormon population and lots of real white Merikans soaked in God and guns. Officially there are no gays in Idaho. It has two tiny patches of blue and one that’s purple. Ironically Idaho used to be at the forefront of labour conflict a century ago. And it actually still has a bunch of mineral wealth in its hills.
leinie
@dogwood is right. I’m in Idaho and there won’t be any stopping this thing. The stranglehold that Republicans have on this state is staggering.
I just hope they deny that traitor to her gender Brandy Swindell her opportunity to grandstand in the lege. She is searching for a sponsor who will allow her to perform an ultrasound I the Senate so “the child can finally testify.” I really hate that woman. I wonder if she still owes Boise court costs from her failed Ten Commandments must be posted on City property lawsuit?
PurpleGirl
Excuse me but I need to vent a short RANT:
I’m tired of all this “women need information about what is happening their bodies… they need to know there is a “baby” up there… etc. etc.” (Excuse me if my words become graphic.)
Excuse me, but from the time of a woman’s first menarche, approximately 12 times a year for some 40 or more years, she experiences the build-up and loss of a nutrient-giving layer of cells in her body. She KNOWS what this is for. She KNOWS she is able to get pregnant and have a baby every time a cycle happens. We spend almost half of our lives considering what could happen if we have sex. We know. We don’t need any shit-stupid legislator or god-botherer telling us we need information and education. I really want to do something violent to these assholes.
Rant over… you can return to your previous activity or reading the comment thread.
Strandedvandal
I am, I do, and they don’t give a shit what I think because I am not a Republican. It is that simple and they aren’t even concerned that we know it.
BerkeleyMom
Where is the American Medical Association (AMA) on this?? I was speaking to an internist this weekend who was horrified at the thought of performing a procedure on a patient that did not give consent and was coerced by the state.
Why don’t these doctors take a stand on this? Christ.
pseudonymous in nc
@efgoldman:
In this case, though, it’s called “AUL”. ALEC’s all about removing regulation on bidness; AUL’s all about adding regulation to vajayjays. In the case of AUL, all a state legislator has to do is get a literate intern to download their draft bills and fill in the blanks.
a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)
@BerkeleyMom: I’ve wondered that as well. American College of Ob-Gyns? I’m looking at you fuckers. There are midwives now for uncomplicated births and the pathologists are the important part of pap smears; the swabs are not that technically difficult, but it’s the reading that’s critical. Women are not stupid, and can (and more importantly, will) find alternate providers if you buncha jackasses don’t start calling out the legislation of unnecessary medical procedures. Believe it.
Gretchen
@PurpleGirl:
As for knowing what’s going on with your body? Every pregnancy, I started throwing up everything I ate as soon as it was implanted, and kept throwing up for three months – 4 for the twins. Not to mention the sore boobs, exhaustion, etc. Trust me, I was aware of the changes in my body. As I knelt with my arms around the toilet, I heartily wished that the bishops could feel the joy of “life” before they could gas on about it any more. I left the Catholic Church shortly after the twins were born.
velouria
@dogwood: As another Idaho resident, I have to sadly agree with you, leinie, and Strandedvandal. There’s no way that this doesn’t pass, which makes me nauseous.
dogwood
@Yutsano:
Idaho has changed alot over the last 40 years. This was the state of Frank Church after all. The Mormon part and the gun part have always been there, but the right-wing evangelical types started moving in from places like Ca. a few decades ago. Canyon county, outside of Boise is one of the kookiest counties in the country, and it’s a mecca for godbotherers who came from somewhere else.
Yutsano
@dogwood: I got somewhat hopeful when Boise got their mini-tech boom, but it doesn’t seem like it was enough to overwhelm the outlying populations. I went to school there in 1990, and if you were any sort of “other” you were going to have problems. What’s really tragic is Boise is really nice.
Kay Shawn
I have to say that in the left-leaning comment-osphere, I’m getting tired of everybody saying, “How can this happen? Women aren’t going to stand for this!” over and over. Because apparently, state upon state, women, doctors, female legislators, the lot, are ALL standing for it. We express disbelief repeatedly, then it happens anyway. People must want this. What other explanation is there? Why aren’t women [and the guys who love them] massing at the statehouses? Why aren’t physicians screaming their heads off? I can’t believe it, but it looks like even this atrocity isn’t important enough. I’m older now, and I fought this with the 70’s generation. Please, where are the young women who should be taking over this fight? Sandra Fluke can’t be the only one willing to stick her neck out. Even the excuses of jobs, spring break, midterms— what is it keeping us so busy? What’s the reasoning here? We’re all watching this slo-mo train crash and letting it happen. Must be cuz we want it or we’d prove we don’t.
uptown
For those in N. Idaho – make the move to Washington state. We know you’re already crossing the border to work, since pay is better over here. Just make the move already.
dogwood
@uptown:
It depends. I live and taught on the Idaho side of a split community. My sister lives and teaches on the Washington side. I am retired at 58 with decent pension and healthcare benefits. My sister is 56, will have to work until she’s well into her 60’s and now the state looking to go to a universal health care plan that has no accepted providers in this valley even though there are 2 decent hospitals and tons of doctors. She will have to drive 100 miles to go to the doctor. So not everything is a better deal in Washington.
The prophet Nostradumbass
Where is the AMA? They represent about 29% of doctors. They like to pretend that they’re similar to the Bar, but they’re not.
Shannon
Kay Shawn: We’re working on it. If you, or anyone else is interested, check out this website: http://www.wearewomenmarch.net/ It’s still under construction, so there are some problems with it, but they are working on it. They also have a FB page. Their goal is to have a nation wide protest on April 28th, then one in DC in September. I hope they can pull it off. I just joined last week when I first heard of it. Right now, we need people to spread the word.
Shannon
Kay Shawn: There’s a movement building right now to protest all of the laws being passed that are attacking women’s rights. They are hoping for a nation wide protest on April 28th and another one in DC in September. You can go here to learn more: http://www.wearewomenmarch.net/ The site is still under construction, so there are some problems with it, but it will give you an idea of where the group stands. They also have a FB page.
Kay Shawn
Shannon: Thanks….checking it out this second!