Category: News || By Staff and Submitted Report

State Rep. Marc Gergely yesterday blasted a proposed mandatory ultrasound bill as intrusive and "invasive," and said he doubted that male Pennsylvania legislators "understood the full implications" of their actions.

The law is similar to a controversial law that recently passed the Virginia House of Delegates. Opponents argue that it would essentially require any Pennsylvania woman seeking an abortion in the early stages of a pregnancy to have an ultrasound probe inserted into her vagina.

At least 10 other states have similar legislation pending, according to a story in the Washington Post.

"I am pro-life, but this proposed government intrusion into the medical care of women is reprehensible," said Gergely, a Democrat from White Oak. "The state should never force any person to undergo such an invasive procedure.

"This is a medical decision that should be made between a woman and her doctor, not legislators for political reasons," he said.

. . .

House Bill 1077 was introduced by state Rep. Kathy Rapp, a Republican from Warren County.

The law has more than 100 co-sponsors, including three Mon-Yough area legislators --- state Rep. Rick Saccone, a Republican who represents Clairton, Elizabeth, Forward, Elrama, Finleyville and Jefferson Hills; state Rep. George Dunbar, a Republican who represents the Norwin area and part of Penn Township; and state Rep. Harry Readshaw, a Democrat whose district includes parts of Pittsburgh's South Hills as well as West Homestead.

"It's hypocritical for any legislator to say that government must stay out of people's lives, then vote for the most personal and private intrusion possible," Gergely said yesterday. "I would be astonished if most of the legislators, including (Dunbar and Saccone), understood the full implications of this legislation and still supported it."

. . .

Supporters of the bill and others like it say that mandating that an ultrasound be performed before an abortion will allow a woman to receive more information about the procedure so that she can make an educated decision.

But opponents say that an ultrasound --- particularly the trans-vaginal type --- is medically unnecessary, and is designed to embarrass and humiliate women, not inform them. The Pennsylvania Medical Society argues that the law sets a "dangerous precedent" by legislating a specific treatment, instead of leaving that up to doctors and patients.

The bill would require health care providers to use an ultrasound to determine the gestational age of the embryo at least 24 hours before an abortion. An abdominal ultrasound --- where a probe is rubbed on the outside of the body --- doesn't provide a clear enough picture in the early stages of gestation, experts say, and a trans-vaginal ultrasound would be needed.

According to the state Department of Health, 93 percent of abortions in Pennsylvania in 2010 were performed in the first trimester, meaning the vast majority of women seeking an abortion in the state would be forced to undergo the trans-vaginal ultrasound first.

. . .

Gergely called the legislation "a disturbing overreach of government into the private medical care of women."

"We should be providing education and abortion alternatives for women coping with a difficult and emotional decision, not trying to shame women or intrude on their privacy as this legislation would do," he said.

According to published reports, Virginia's Republican governor, Bob McDonnell, abandoned his support for that state's ultrasound legislation after being ridiculed in the media. "Mandating an invasive procedure in order to give informed consent is not a proper role for the state," he said.

Gergely said that Texas is the only state that effectively forces a vaginal ultrasound before abortions. Arizona, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida require ultrasounds, but allow the doctor to determine the type.

. . .

(Editor's Note: This story was written by Jason Togyer in part from a press release by Kevin Hensil of the state House Democratic Communications Office.)

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