Several abortion-related bills moved through the House of Delegates this week.
One would update the state’s informed-consent requirements to mandate that doctors offer to allow women to view an ultrasound image of their fetuses before the abortion is performed.
“The woman is not forced to see the image; it is there for her to see should she so chose,” said House Majority Leader Morgan Griffith, R-Salem.
Opponents tried to kill the measure in the Courts of Justice Committee, arguing it is intended to discourage abortions by preying on women’s emotions.
“I haveMRIs taken. I have X-rays taken and I never view those,” said Del. Vivian Watts, D-Annandale. “I find this idea that the woman should see the ultrasound image is an issue that has to do with intimidation.”
Another measure would require doctors to offer to give anesthesia to a fetus prior to performing an abortion and to give the women information that a fetus at least 20 weeks old can feel pain the way children and adults can.
“It is not a problem to give a fetus pain relief before a destructive procedure,” said John Seeds, chairman of Virginia Commonwealth University’s obstetrics/gynocology department. “It’s a bill to inform the mother of what happens during the procedure.”
But Audra Tefoya, deputy director of NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia, said there’s no consensus in the medical community on whether fetuses can feel pain. She also told the House Courts of Justice that using anesthesia on a fetus still in the womb could harm the mother.
“This does not serve the best interests of the patient,” Tefoya said. “Medical science does not support this legislation’s conclusions. It is highly improbable that a human fetus has the capability to experience pain before the third trimester.”
The bills likely will be assigned to the Senate’s Health and Education Committee, which traditionally has been hostile to bills seen to restrict access to abortions. This year the panel has already killed a House bill that would have required all abortion clinics to meet the same structural requirements as ambulatory surgery centers.
