![]() But what if a large number of women were seeking abortions not because the timing wasnt right, or because they didnt think they could afford it, or because of a relationship problem with the babys father, but because the child itself wasnt right? So much of the abortion debate proceeds from the assumption that abortion-seeking women are motivated primarily by the impact they think that a baby will have on their lives. ![]() The rationale for exempting minors is less clear to me, but it would be far too easy to get carried away by a discussion of parental notification and consent laws, and I dont want to lose sight of the exemption that is most troubling: the exemption for an abnormal fetus. There is a well-rehearsed”if controversial”argument that such women shouldnt be subjected to a description of little baby fingers and little baby toes. The law does this by exempting minors, rape victims, and those whose fetuses have an irreversible medical condition or abnormality from the counseling it requires.įew would disagree that a woman who has been raped is a victim. Unfortunately, however, the Texas law reinforces what I consider a morally repellent notion”that pregnant women carrying a fetus with a diagnosed genetic condition are victims. Those grainy images can be a powerful reminder of the essential humanity of the rapidly developing embryo or fetus displayed on the screen. Hailed as a victory by many in the pro-life movement, the so-called sonogram law, passed recently by the Texas Legislature and now awaiting Governor Rick Perrys signature, requires women seeking an abortion in the Lone Star State to view a sonogram image and listen to a description of the dimensions of the embryo or fetus, the presence of cardiac activity, and the presence of external members and internal organs. I am the father of three small children and a seasoned veteran of the ultrasound routine. I hate to do it, but I have to mess with Texas. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |