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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Pennsylvanians for Choice Urges State House to Reject Forced Ultrasound Bill

HARRISBURG (February 14) - With the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in the midst of its final week of session before budget hearings begin, a coalition of advocates for reproductive healthcare called on the chamber to reject legislation aimed at forcing women seeking abortions to have an ultrasound at least 24 hours before the abortion. Pennsylvanians for Choice (PFC), a coalition of 19 organizations dedicated to protecting access to reproductive healthcare, described House Bill 1077 as “an overreach” and a medically unnecessary mandate from the government.

“Today a doctor and a patient make decisions together about the patient’s healthcare needs,” said Sue Frietsche, senior staff attorney with the Women’s Law Project. “While ultrasounds are routine before an abortion, doctors have the discretion to decide if and when to perform them.

“With this bill, the House is meddling where it doesn’t belong, inside a healthcare facility making decisions that are best left to patients and doctors,” Frietsche added.

Along with its 24 hour rule, HB 1077 includes other directives. It requires doctors to position the screen that shows the ultrasound in the patient’s line of sight and mandates delivery of the pictures from the procedure to the patient, who then must deliver them to the doctor performing the abortion procedure.

“This legislation is an overreach in the extreme,” said Sari Stevens, executive director of Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania Advocates. “It’s based on the belief that women are not smart enough or emotionally mature enough to make decisions about their healthcare on their own. This is an insult to women everywhere.”

PFC also raised questions about the constitutional viability of the legislation. HB 1077 forces doctors to invite patients to watch the ultrasound and to listen to the fetal heartbeat and requires doctors to sign a statement that this information was shared.  The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania believes that this poses problems under the First Amendment.

“The government cannot force doctors to deliver its anti-abortion message,” said Andy Hoover, legislative director of the ACLU of Pennsylvania. “The constitution protects us from compelled speech.”

HB 1077 passed out of the House Health Committee last week and is currently on the House calendar. If it is brought to the floor of the House, it will be the third time this session that the chamber has considered legislation to restrict women’s access to abortion care.

Pennsylvanians for Choice is a coalition of pro-choice organizations and their allies whose mission is to protect and enhance reproductive health care for all Pennsylvanians. PFC is committed to fulfilling our mission by fighting for universal access to high-quality, comprehensive reproductive health services, including abortion services; nurturing respect and support for women’s decisions about themselves and their families; and educating, organizing, and mobilizing a statewide pro-choice constituency.

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The Women's Law Project is the fiscal sponsor for Pennsylvanians for Choice. The official registration and financial information of the Women's Law Project may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll free, within Pennsylvania, 1(800)732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.