Ultrasounds before abortion? Then rectal exams before Viagra

[meda]

Found this on Alternet, I am totally contributing to this woman's re election campaign.

"One Virginia Democrat is fighting anti-choice madness with a little bit of tit-for-tat legislating. From Hamptonroads.com (h/t to @Clinicescort on Twitter);

The state Senate this afternoon gave preliminary approval for legislation that would require pregnant women to undergo ultrasound imaging before an abortion, but not before rejecting a Democratic senator’s attempt to add what she described as “ a little gender equity†to the bill.

Democrat Janet Howell of Fairfax County proposed requiring men to undergo a rectal exam and a cardiac stress test before getting prescriptions for erectile dysfunction drugs such as Viagra.

Although the measure didn't pass, it may certainly succeed in making Howell a hero for the pro-choicers among us. And it also makes a very salient point, quite clearly.

Howell explained her reasoning in both opposing the ultrasound bill and proposing her unorthodox amendment:

“[mandating ultrasounds is] requiring them to have unnecessary medical procedures, it’s adding to the cost and it’s opening them up for emotional blackmail,†she said on the Senate floor today. “And I was upset because it’s disrespectful of doctors. It’s forcing them to perform procedures they don’t think is necessary.â€

She said she...saw an ad for an erectile dysfunction drug that included a recitation of “all the serious things that could happen to a man who was going to take this medication.â€

“So, I said, it’s only fair, that if we’re going to subject women to unnecessary procedures, and we’re going to subject doctors to having to do things that they don’t think is medically advisory, well, Mr. President, I think we should just have a little gender equity here...

Maybe this will be the new trend in guerilla pro-choice tactics."

[ThreeCatsAndCounting]

I not only agree with her idea, I think it makes a lot of sense! Viagra is known to cause deaths, whereas abortion is known to be safer than childbirth.

[Austin]

Sounds fair to me!

A question, though. I read a book recently written by a woman OB/GYN who performed abortions and she spoke of how life is for her and others who provide this needed health care service to women. Emmiedahl recommended the book, and it was very good. Anyway, she wrote of routinely doing an ultrasound before an abortion and my impression was that it was to see where the pregnancy was located, or perhaps to determine gestational age. So that made me wonder if all this carrying on by right-wing politicians about women needing to have an ultrasound is kind of stupid since they have an ultrasound anyway.

If that's the case, the part that would be different is that this doctor didn't read some stupid fact sheet to her patients about "your baby this and your baby that".

[valsa]

I think that sounds awesome.

To bad there wasn't a way to tie the two bills together, so that the ultrasound bill couldn't pass without automatically including the Viagra bill. Given how many men in the Senate probably take Viagra, it might have sunk the ultrasound bill just because those guys wouldn't want a finger in their ass.

[Kelya]

Sounds fair to me!

A question, though. I read a book recently written by a woman OB/GYN who performed abortions and she spoke of how life is for her and others who provide this needed health care service to women. Emmiedahl recommended the book, and it was very good. Anyway, she wrote of routinely doing an ultrasound before an abortion and my impression was that it was to see where the pregnancy was located, or perhaps to determine gestational age. So that made me wonder if all this carrying on by right-wing politicians about women needing to have an ultrasound is kind of stupid since they have an ultrasound anyway.

If that's the case, the part that would be different is that this doctor didn't read some stupid fact sheet to her patients about "your baby this and your baby that".

I don't think its common for a non surgical abortion- those make up all but one i know people to have gotten, and they've never had an ultrasound. the one person i know who did do a surgical one did have an ultrasound, but it wasn't done as an ultrasound really. Ultrasounds are to check on the fetus, make sure its healthy, show parents, take pictures of the fetus, whatever else it is people do. It seems inherently social. Her ultrasound was a locating device, nothing more.

[Austin]

I don't think its common for a non surgical abortion- those make up all but one i know people to have gotten, and they've never had an ultrasound. the one person i know who did do a surgical one did have an ultrasound, but it wasn't done as an ultrasound really. Ultrasounds are to check on the fetus, make sure its healthy, show parents, take pictures of the fetus, whatever else it is people do. It seems inherently social. Her ultrasound was a locating device, nothing more.

Yeah, I should have made it clear that I was referring to surgical abortions. I wouldn't imagine any use for one before a non-surgical abortion.

[Kelya]

Yeah, I should have made it clear that I was referring to surgical abortions. I wouldn't imagine any use for one before a non-surgical abortion.

Only if politicians like this get their way! I have read accounts of people having ultra sounds before non surgical abortions because of confusion of the time of conception, but I don't know anyone personally who had to do this and I think they probably have better ways to judge if the timing is early enough for a non surgical one.

[fundifugee]

Yeah, I should have made it clear that I was referring to surgical abortions. I wouldn't imagine any use for one before a non-surgical abortion.

Actually, all abortions in my neck of the woods have ultrasounds beforehand. That is because here we are only able to do an abortion, medical or d&c, up to seven weeks. If someone is beyond that, we cannot do them safely here and they are referred to the secondary level hospital, which can do them up to 12 weeks. Beyond that, they are referred to the big city. So dates are important because they affect what kind of procedure we do, and where we can do it.

I believe this bill specifically states that not only does the woman have to have an ultrasound, she must look at the fetus on the screen. That is definitely emotional blackmail.

And it is medically logical for men to have a good cardiovascular work-up if they are requesting a viagra prescription. Erectile dysfunction that is remedied by Viagra is a vascular disorder. This type of erectile dysfunction is a sign that the arteries are getting gummed up, and if the penis isn't working, the heart and the brain could be next.

The rectal exam thing sounds just like what we do to women when we try to make them have a pap when they want birth control pills. It is good preventative health care, but kind of icky, so we sometimes resort to bribes and (mild) harassment to get it done. (Not that I'd ever refuse a woman birth control if she refused to have a pap).

[starfish]

I really hope that catches on. Men pop that Viagra like it's tic tacs.

And you know they are outraged! I mean outraged! that anyone would try to interfere with their ability to have a constant erection.

[aldisbrand]

In 1992 I had an abortion in Dayton, OH. They said they had to do an ultasound to check the age of the fetus, but the technician said I didn't have to look if I didn't want to. She even turned the screen away from me. I thought that was nice.

[emmyfair]

In 1992 I had an abortion in Dayton, OH. They said they had to do an ultasound to check the age of the fetus, but the technician said I didn't have to look if I didn't want to. She even turned the screen away from me. I thought that was nice.

That's how a professional is supposed to act. I'm glad you got a good tech. :)

[elliesmash]

I had a medical abortion in MD in December and had to have an ultrasound. It was very quick and they turned the screen away from me as well.