S.C. House: View fetal image prior to abortion

Women seeking abortions would have to see a fetal ultrasound before the procedure under a bill given key approval in the S.C. House Wednesday.

After three hours of passionate debate, the House voted 91-23 to require women to sign a statement swearing they had seen an ultrasound image of their fetus before getting an abortion.

A half-dozen other states offer ultrasound images to abortion patients, legislative staffers said. But those states do not require abortion patients view them.

Supporters of the measure hope that image will spur more women to forgo abortion. Opponents called the bill 'emotional blackmail.'

Third and final approval of the bill in the House could come as early as today, sending the bill to the Senate. There, the proposal faces stiffer opposition; individual senators hold great power to delay or derail legislation.

Abortion foes celebrated Wednesday's vote.

'It was better than I expected,' Rep. Greg Delleney, R-Chester, said after he and other lawmakers, mostly Republicans, beat back a series of amendments from Democrats.

'Many of the pro-life groups contacted people around the state, and people were praying about this. Hundreds, if not thousands, were praying for it.'

Debate was impassioned.

Rep. Todd Rutherford, D-Richland, railed against Republicans for opposing his amendment to exempt victims of rape and incest from the required ultrasound viewing.

Forcing a victim of a crime to see the results is tantamount to forcing her to relive the ordeal, Rutherford said. 'You all are doing it to her once again.'

But Delleney said the fetus is no less precious.

Rep. Bob Leach, R-Greenville, accused Rutherford of manufactured indignity. 'I'll be nominating you for actor of the year,' Leach said.

When Rutherford raised his voice in response, Speaker Pro Tem Doug Smith, R-Spartanburg, had to quiet both men and remind them to debate with civility.

Rep. Cathy Harvin, D-Clarendon, said the 111 men in the 124-member House never could understand the dueling emotions the issue raises.

'There are 111 of you in this body who will never be able to know the joy a woman experiences when she discovers she is with child,' Harvin said. 'There are 111 of you who will never know the horror, that experience, that horror of being impregnated when it's not something they desire, and then be taken and forced to observe the evidence of the crime.'

Theology, Scripture and wrenching personal stories poured from the podium through much of the debate.

Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, D-Orangeburg, quoted the book of Micah to bolster her argument against the bill.

'What does the Lord require of you but to do justice?' Cobb-Hunter quoted. 'Love kindness and walk humbly with your God.'

Abortion-rights opponents used the same sentiment later Wednesday to suggest the bill is a mistake. In a news release after the bill passed, the Columbia Christians for Life said the bill 'may reduce abortions, but it will also prolong the practice of 'legalized' abortion.'

'God's requirement in the case of murder is justice, not regulation,' the release said.

Reach Gould Sheinin at (803) 771-8658.