But perhaps pro-choice groups can rest a little easier. The New York Times reports today that ultrasounds seldom actually have the effect of changing a woman's mind about abortion. The NYT interviewed women and staff at clinics in Alabama for the story.
One woman even reported that she found it reassuring...Staff members interviewed at three of the seven abortion clinics in the state estimated that 30 percent to 70 percent of women chose to see ultrasound images. But they said it was uncommon for women to be dissuaded.
It had happened occasionally, they said, when a sonogram revealed a multiple pregnancy or when a woman was already deeply unsure about her choice...
“About half of women opt to view them,” said Diane Derzis, who owns the Birmingham clinic. “And I’ve never had one patient get off the table because she saw what her fetus looks like.”
“It just looked like a little egg, and I couldn’t see arms or legs or a face,” said Tiesha, 27, who chose to view her 8-week-old embryo before aborting it at the Birmingham clinic. “It was really the picture of the ultrasound that made me feel it was O.K.”Interesting...
Well, I don't think anti-choice advocates will like this one bit.
ReplyDeleteNot at all!
ReplyDeleteBut on the bright side, maybe this means that pro-choice advocates can breathe a little easier! Like I said, I don't like laws that *force* the woman to look at an ultrasound image; if she doesn't want to see it, you can't make her look at it. It should definitely be an option, though.