January 6, 2011

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By Dave Andrusko

"It's our first victory," said an excited Mary Spaulding Balch, NRLC director of State Legislation. The Kentucky Senate had just passed an ultrasound display bill Thursday afternoon.

The 32-5 vote came only hours after the Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection Committee approved Senate Bill 9 by a vote of 9-3. Supporters hope the House will begin consideration on Friday. Time is of the essence because the legislature is in session for only 30 days.
"Kentucky Right to Life did a superb job in the Senate," Balch said, "and will continue to work for passage in the House."

The bill builds on Kentucky's 1998 informed consent law. Under Senate Bill 9, an abortionist must display the ultrasound monitor so that the pregnant woman can look at her unborn child, if she chooses.

The measure would also require that the information be presented face-to-face with the woman 24 hours before a scheduled abortion, rather than over the phone, by the abortionist or or someone designated by him.

"What can be more informative than an ultrasound image of the mother's own unborn child?, "Balch said. "It offers her a window to her womb and allows her the opportunity to see her child in real-time ultrasound. It offers her an opportunity to understand the consequences of her decision so that she might be spared regret. And it offers her the opportunity to choose life for her child."

This is an important piece of legislation, Balch said, "because it goes far in protecting the mother from making an uninformed decision--one that has life and death consequences."

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Part Two
Part Three