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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsJudges: Texas Can Enforce Sonogram Law Now
A panel of federal appellate judges has authorized Texas officials to enforce a controversial abortion sonogram law while its constitutionality is being challenged in court.
In an opinion, the judges said the measure's opponents "failed to demonstrate constitutional flaws" in the measure, which they said was "fatal" to their effort to prevent it from taking effect.
The abortion sonogram law, which lawmakers passed last legislative session, requires doctors to perform sonograms and describe what they see, including the size of the fetus and the length of its limbs. The measure has been in court almost since it passed, with opponents arguing it violates doctors' First Amendment rights by forcing them to disclose information that isn't medically necessary and that the woman may not want to hear.
The Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned Austin District Judge Sam Sparks' temporary order this morning, preventing the sonogram measure from taking effect. ..............(more)
The complete piece is at: http://www.texastribune.org/texas-legislature/2011-abortion-sonogram-bill/judges-texas-can-enforce-sonogram-law-now/
xchrom
(108,903 posts)mrs_p
(3,014 posts)southernyankeebelle
(11,304 posts)Solly Mack
(90,758 posts)They_Live
(3,224 posts)this is an invasive sonogram procedure, if done in the early stages of pregnancy. Which just makes this even worse.
freshwest
(53,661 posts)What's wrong with this picture?
The intertubes must be stuck again, I don't see how it works.
I just dunno.
yellowcanine
(35,694 posts)So the law orders a doctor to perform a medical procedure which may not be medically necessary and dictates how the doctor must communicate the results to the patient. That has to be unConstitutional.
marsis
(301 posts)the party that cries and bitches about smaller government.
sakabatou
(42,141 posts)Last edited Tue Jan 10, 2012, 06:02 PM - Edit history (2)
Thank you, Judge Sparks!
BlueMTexpat
(15,365 posts)The temporary order would have prevented the sonogram law from taking effect.
You may have misread or your "gratitude" was meant sarcastically
sakabatou
(42,141 posts)beac
(9,992 posts)Sickening and sad.
bongbong
(5,436 posts)According to 'pigs, a doctor CANNOT inquire about a client owning guns, but MUST inquire about their wombs.
ceile
(8,692 posts)Every termination must have a sonogram- it's how the doc determines the fetus age. What's at issue is the doctor having to describe what he sees: "...describe what they see, including the size of the fetus and the length of its limbs." That part is not medically necessary and could be, IMO, considered mental torture to what could possibly be an already traumatised woman.
w8liftinglady
(23,278 posts)I see self-induced pregnancy termination right around the corner...just like the old days.