Reproductive Rights Updates: AK, WI, IL, GA, MI, AZ, & Fed

Here's some more of All The News You Can Use...to bang your head against your desk.

In Alaska, the state's Senate Minority Leader, John Coghill (R-North Pole) has intro'd mandatory ultrasound legislation. Wait. North Pole? That's cool, in a "don't write that every day" sort of way. But I digress! Sen. Coghill thinks this is a matter of "informed consent". He so graciously explains:

"I think if people understood a little bit more about what's going on in the womb, they might reconsider (an abortion)," he said.

"The choice is the female's, and I respect that as much as I can respect it," he said, "but I'm also trying to bring as much respect for what a pregnancy really is."

Because "a female" just doesn't know anything about "what a pregnancy really is", amirite?

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In Wisconsin, there was, apparently, a "contentious" debate in the state senate yesterday when a public hearing was held regarding legislation that is supposed to ensure that a woman is definitely not being forced to have an abortion and also addresses women being able to obtain mifepristone via web.

Under current Wisconsin law, abortion providers must inform women seeking them of the risks, and then the woman must give voluntary written consent. Republican Rep. Michelle Litjens wants to add provisions. She told the Assembly Health committee of her alarm when she heard a Milwaukee radio station air a 911 call.

“There was a young girl about 13 or 14 who was being escorted into an abortion clinic a few months ago. She didn’t want to go inside and there were some people outside the clinic who were trying to help her so they called 911 and the police said there was nothing they could do. She was going inside with a guardian, and they could not help the girl and it’s frightening to hear. This bill requires the physician to inform the woman that she has the right to refuse an abortion, that her consent is not voluntary if someone is coercing her and that it’s unlawful for the physician to perform the procedure if it’s not voluntary,” Litjens says.

Litjens says her bill would require the physician to question the patient in private and have her sign a voluntary consent form without anyone else present.

Ok there are two issues with this. First one is brought up--and smacked down--by Rep Sandy Pasch (D-Whitefish Bay). Rep Pasch is also a nurse, btw:

"Let me tell you what the components of informed consent are, that there’s a voluntariness, that’s essential as part of it, that’s already in the informed consent process, that information is provided to the patient and the information needs to be the risks and benefits of the procedure that they’re requesting, the risks and benefits of alternative procedures and the risks and benefits of doing nothing which in this case would be allowing a pregnancy, so which part of that do you think needs to be strengthened?” Pasch asks.

Litjens: “I would like to strengthen it so that that woman is asked those questions or told that information in a room where she doesn’t feel pressured at all. I would like that young girl who was forced to enter an abortion clinic in Milwaukee to have the opportunity to say no."

Pasch: “If the physician doesn’t do it, there could be a felony charge. Who’s going to monitor that physician if they’re all alone in the room?”

Litjens: “ I would assume that the woman’s going to monitor the physician to make sure it’s done because that would give her the opportunity if she’s being coerced by a boyfriend, by a parent, by an abusive stepfather or something of that nature."

Which brings us to the next issue. I see Rep Litjens is all about calling a minor a woman in this aspect. She is all about the rights of a minor to not have to have an abortion if she does not want one. The right to choose "no, it's not what I want". However, in Wisconsin, minors cannot obtain an abortion without the consent of a parent.

So. Wisconsin: no abortion if you're under 18 without parental consent; no parental "interference" if a minor does not want an abortion. Not that I'm saying anyone should have to have an abortion if they do not want one. The point is no one should be forced into a choice they do not want to make by another person--including a parent stopping an abortion.

The other aspect is regarding the ability of a woman to be prescribed mifepristone (RU-486) via web by a doctor when one is not present in office to otherwise do so (a woman still has to come to clinic to access the consult). This is not currently available in Wisconsin but the WI "right to life" groups want to try and head it off before it can be available.

Nothing was decided on the legislation yesterday, except that more discussion is needed.

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In Illinois, the state is jumping on the mandatory ultrasound bandwagon:

According to Illinois House bill 786, the Ultrasound Opportunity Act, women electing to have abortions will be subject to undergo an invasive sonogram, listen while a technician or the doctor verbally describes in detail what is shown in the sonogram and wait a 24-hour period before receiving the procedure.

The "Ultrasound Opportunity Act"? Really? I bet one of these days some state is going to call it the "Pre-Born Citizen Photo Op Act".

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We have a theme for the next three states. SPOILER: It's not a fun theme.

In Georgia, Rep. Doug McKillip (R-Eprehensible) has intro'd legislation to ban abortion after 20 weeks gestation. Abortion after then would only be allowed if the person would die otherwise. The bill has not yet gone anywhere.

In Michigan, Rep. Eileen Kowall (R-Idiculous) has intro'd legislation to ban abortion after 20 weeks gestation. Abortion would only be allowed if the person would die otherwise. This bill has a name: "Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act". It also says that any doctor who does an abortion after the 20th week would face felony charges and up to 15 years in prison.

In Arizona, Rep. Kimberly Yee (R-Epugnant) has intro'd legislation to ban abortion after 20 weeks gestation. Abortion would only be allowed if the person would die otherwise. This bill also includes mandatory ultrasound 24 hours beforehand, posting signs in clinics saying that no one can force anyone else to have an abortion, and:

[It] would require the health department to provide a web site that provides a range of information, including alternatives to abortion, medical risks and descriptions of fetuses.

The descriptions would include "pictures or drawings representing the development of unborn children at two-week gestational increments and any relevant information on the possibility of the unborn child's survival."

Because none of that information is available anywhere else!

Anyway, every one of these 20-week gestation bans is based on the idea of "fetal pain", which has been debunked. But who cares about science, amirite?!

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Just a quick note about federal legislation news with regards to the manufactured controversy over the Affordable Care Act covering birth control. MoJo helpfully points out (emphasis mine):

[T]he central mandate—that most employers have to cover preventative care for women—has been law for over a decade. This point has been completely lost in the current controversy, as Republican presidential candidates and social conservatives claim that Obama has launched a war on religious liberty and the Catholic Church.

Obama's additions to the current law now require business with less than 15 employees have to follow it and no co-pays for anyone.