Virginia drops the state-sanctioned rape by trans-vaginal ultrasound provision

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Who knew that "small government" conservative actually means:

"A government small enough to insert into a woman's vagina"

WTF? What is wrong with these sick bastards? Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell no longer guaranteeing he'll sign state-sponsored rape bill:

Virginia Republicans continue frantically trying to figure out what to do about the state-sanctioned rape bill they seemingly didn't realize people would object to. With the state House postponing its final vote and Gov. Bob McDonnell no longer guaranteeing he'll sign the bill, some delegates and McDonnell staffers are talking about a compromise measure:

…after learning that some ultrasounds could be more invasive than first thought, according to two officials who were aware of the meeting but not authorized to speak about it publicly. Many of the bill’s supporters were apparently unaware of how invasive the procedure could be, one of the officials added.

To begin with, who would look at the name "trans-vaginal ultrasound" and not think "hey, this might be invasive"? But let's say the name doesn't quite register on you. How do you read even the most cursory description of a procedure that involves inserting a sizable probe into a woman's vagina and not think "yeah, that's invasive all right"? "We didn't realize it was so invasive" doesn't meet the laugh test even as Republican excuses go. That was the whole point. It was supposed to not just make it more time-consuming and expensive to get an abortion, but to make women suffer for it (as if the physical experience of having an abortion is pleasurable to begin with).

Developing story: Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell publicly backs away from state-sponsored rape bill:

That was fast. Just hours ago, the big news out of Virginia was that Gov. Bob McDonnell had switched from fully supporting the state legislation forcing women seeking an abortion to undergo a trans-vaginal ultrasound, to thinking, "hey, maybe that's kind of invasive."

 

Now, McDonnell has changed his mind and is opposing the bill as currently written. From his statement:

Over the past days I have discussed the specific language of the proposed legislation with other governors, physicians, attorneys, legislators, advocacy groups, and citizens. It is apparent that several amendments to the proposed legislation are needed to address various medical and legal issues which have arisen. It is clear that in the majority of cases, a routine external, transabdominal ultrasound is sufficient to meet the bills stated purpose, that is, to determine gestational age. I have come to understand that the medical practice and standard of care currently guide physicians to use other procedures to find the gestational age of the child, when abdominal ultrasounds cannot do so. Determining gestational age is essential for legal reasons, to know the trimester of the pregnancy in order to comply with the law, and for medical reasons as well.

Thus, having looked at the current proposal, I believe there is no need to direct by statute that further invasive ultrasound procedures be done. Mandating an invasive procedure in order to give informed consent is not a proper role for the state.No person should be directed to undergo an invasive procedure by the state, without their consent, as a precondition to another medical procedure.

While it's absolutely unbelievable that McDonnell and his advisors did not know exactly what a trans-vaginal ultrasound was, and what it would mean for Virginia's women, maybe he actually was educated by the huge response against the bill. Or maybe he can just read polls. At any rate, a victory.

UPDATE: The Virginia House of Delegates passed the bill, taking out the mandatory trans-vaginal ultrasound, mandating just a regular ultrasound.

Still a medically unnecessary procedure that the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists should raise holy hell over. Stand up to these sick bastard Tea-Publican politicians in Virginia. Who are they to dictate to medical professionals that they must perform medically unnecessary procedures in violation of their professional standards and ethics? These "small government" conservatives are still inserting themselves into the most personal and private matters of women, their reproductive health care and their doctor-patient relationship.

"Get the Government out of Gynecology!"

h/t graphic Daily Kos