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Published: May 21, 2009
“Now the baby is very clear, very distinct”
Improved ultrasound technology credited for pro-life shift
Washington, D.C., May 20, 2009 (CNA) -- Some doctors and pro-life leaders now say modern ultrasound technology is partly responsible for Americans’ gradual shift to identifying themselves as pro-life.
Nebraskan legislators are now considering joining other states that require that a woman considering an abortion be provided an ultrasound of her baby.
 A recent Gallup poll showed 51 percent of Americans now self-identify as pro-life, composing a majority for the first time. The change has led to speculation that improved ultrasound technology has helped change minds.
"Ultrasound used to be less available, very grainy,” Charmaine Yoest of Americans United for Life told Fox News. “Now the baby is very clear, very distinct."
Massachusetts Dr. Eric J. Keroack reported to Fox News that a two-year study showed 75 percent of his patients who were unsure about having an abortion decided not to after choosing to view the ultrasound images of their child.
Currently, six states require verbal counseling or written materials to include information on accessing ultrasound services. Twelve states regulate the provision of ultrasound by abortion providers.
Last week Nebraska lawmakers advanced a measure requiring abortion providers to display ultrasound images of unborn children so that patients can easily view them. On Thursday they voted 37-5 to send the measure to a second round of voting.
Nebraska state Sen. John Harm told Fox News the proposed law gives struggling women the option to view an ultrasound and “hopefully see a beating heart and the development of the child.”
"I've had correspondence with women who've gone through an abortion and who've said that if they had the option of seeing the ultrasound, they might not have made that decision," he said.
Defenders of abortion argued that the technology is being used to generate guilt among women who have abortions.
"The other side has made it pretty clear that this is a strategy to get women to change their minds," Gretchen Borchelt, senior counsel at the National Women's Law Center, told FOXNews.com.
She said her organization does not support requiring women to view ultrasound images.
Last year Oklahoma passed legislation requiring abortion providers to perform an ultrasound on every woman seeking an abortion and to place the monitor in a position easy for the woman to view.
The legislation requires doctors to provide “a simultaneous description of what the ultrasound is depicting” and describe the dimensions of the unborn child, the presence of cardiac activity, and the presence of external members and internal organs if they are present and viewable.
The bill clearly states that there will be no legal penalty for either the physician or the woman if she refuses to look at the ultrasound images.
However, the bill is being challenged by the Center for Reproductive Rights, which represents abortion clinics.
Posted Thursday, May 21, 2009 2:38 AM By Angelo
"Defenders of abortion argued that the technology is being used to generate guilt among women who have abortions"
If this be the case then it is a good thing. If one man is about to murder another, and then changes his mind because of guilt. And spares the other man's life. Then this is good and not evil. "Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom."
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Posted Thursday, May 21, 2009 5:24 AM By BJ
The tide is turning. The truth is impossible to conceal...... but
the pro death defenders are at last being forced to recognise that they are indeed fighting for the 'reproductive'
right' to choose .... to murder an innocent human being.'.i.e. to kill the human result of the 'reproductive process'. MURDER.
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Posted Thursday, May 21, 2009 6:17 AM By St. Christopher
Highlight the opposition. Take what their lobbyists give to the legislators and make it public. Bring the light and show the pictures. Pro-life is and will ultimately win in the public's heart. The abortion rights movement will then be seen for what is really is, a license for sexual irresponsibility, for excess of every kind.
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Posted Thursday, May 21, 2009 7:58 AM By The original Frank
I have more faith in Love than in legislation. A law can compel a doctor to produce an ultrasound, but it won't help if that doctor regards the imaging as merely an extra cost to his procedure. If the image is botched or is presented in an "I am legally required to offer you a picture before we proceed" manner, I don't think many hearts will change. Laws to ensure universal access to high-quality ultrasound imaging, and financial support for technology to improve the images further and reduce costs would make more sense. Imagine if pro-life organizations offered low-cost high-quality imaging performed in a loving and life-positive environment --- That, I think, would would have much more impact than legally forced images produced in a clinic where staff routinely participate in abortions.
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Posted Thursday, May 21, 2009 8:26 AM By Camille
Maybe Obama should be required to view an ultra sound before making any life destroying decisions regarding abortion, stem cell usage, etc.
Now it may finally come out that it is Planned Parenthood that doesn't believe in choice after all.
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Posted Thursday, May 21, 2009 10:13 AM By Dan
A good decision is always a well-informed decision. One really sees how "pro-choice" abortion advocates are when they would deny the suitability of ultrasound images to assist the parents of the child to make a well-informed decision.
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Posted Thursday, May 21, 2009 1:36 PM By Anne T.
Men and women are going to find out one way or another what abortion really is -- the killing of a child. Many women have been shocked when they first see a book on fetal development and that it really is a child in there. Wasn't it the Nazis who did not want the world to see the pictures of all the Jews, Christians and other people in their death camps? And they have the audacity to accuse pro-life people of terroism, racism, etc.
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Posted Thursday, May 21, 2009 2:02 PM By Life Lady
I like the suggestion that the clinics not be the ones that are required to provide the ultrasound image, but it would not make any sense for a woman to be compelled to go to another facility to get the image before she goes to the abortion mill. She could side-step that process, and I can see the abortionists helping her do that. However, if those people who were doing abortions were required to have the ultrasound equipment in good working order, and have a technician available to explain the images, I think that would not be a problem. Whether the technician were pro-abortion or pro-life, the pictures are worth a thousand words. The images would show a child, a baby with all its little arms, legs, hands, feet, fingers and toes. It would show the image of the child in the womb. Who could destroy such a child once it is seen? There may be women out there who could, but not many. No one would have to say a word, but to simply answer questions. If someone said "I have to show you this, by law" then fine, but the picture would speak for itself, and the technician could not put in their own two cents but answer the questions for the mother. I think it should be required by everyone going for an abortion to see what they are going to destroy. Guilt? Says who? If the pro-aborts are saying that word, it speaks volumes of what they know is the result of abortion. If they know it, they ought to be afraid, very afraid. Guilt can move people to change, and that is what they are worried about, not the guilt, but the movement to change. Great, let there be a lot of guilt. It goes with the territory of killing the unborn.
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Posted Thursday, May 21, 2009 6:00 PM By victoriag
I watched a special about this new hi-tech ultra sound, I think on, Discovery Channel. Amazing! The sweet little babies were sucking their thumbs, sleeping and one little baby was even doing a sort of dance as he responded to the music his mummy was playing. I'm so glad women contemplating abortion are seeing their babies for what they are... Human Beings. And if it is causing the Mother's to have guilt, so much the better. There is terrible guilt connected with MURDER.
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Posted Thursday, May 21, 2009 6:24 PM By Elizabeth
Thank you DEAR LORD!!!!!!
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Posted Friday, May 22, 2009 1:09 PM By Angelo
Camille, I laud your suggestion. Requiring Obama to see these images, we well know it will never happen. These images should be made available to all prolifers. So that we can send them ourselves to Obama and all anti-life politicians. I'm sure they will at least reconsider their anti-life positions. Camille, your suggestion must not and cannot be ignored.
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Posted Friday, May 22, 2009 4:08 PM By Common Sense/Wisdom
Camille yes I agree, lets show these images to Obama but his pride may actually prevent him from actually looking into this, after all it is above his pay rate! Agenda promoters of choice, do not want to cave in because that would mean that are admitting to being wrong and they would not want to compromise the choice of women to choose. To murder or not to murder the unborn. Lets stick to improving technology to use it to save babies and perhaps we can prevent more abortions and then maybe these agenda promoters of pro-abortion can no longer be in leading positions of our country!
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Posted Friday, May 22, 2009 5:14 PM By Anne T.
The American Life League just sent me a prayer that I would like to share with you. On the front of the prayer card is a nice picture of Barack Obama. On the back it asks us to request that St. Paul intercede for the full conversion of this President. Here it is: O, St. Paul the Apostle, great convert, preacher of truth and Doctor of the Gentiles, intercede for us to God, who chose you. You are a vessel of election, O St. Paul the Apostle, preacher of truth to the whole world. O God, You have instructed many nations through the preaching of the blessed apostle Paul. Let the power of Your intercession bring about the conversion of President Barak Obama to the fullness of Your grace. Help the president to recognize the personhood of all human beings -- born and preborn. Help us who venerate St. Paul's memory this day to continually seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit as we work to spread Your truth. Amen.
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Posted Saturday, May 23, 2009 5:50 AM By Mark from PA
That is interesting Anne T. Perhaps those from California can send those prayer cards to Nancy Pelosi.
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Posted Saturday, May 23, 2009 10:09 AM By Anne T.
Yes, Mark from Pa, Nancy Pelosi is in need of the intercession of St. Paul also. As we pray that prayer, we could add many names besides the name of the President. I hope they offer more of those cards.
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Posted Saturday, May 23, 2009 12:35 PM By Mark from PA
I just wanted to tell you, Anne. I just got off the phone with my brother, he got one of those prayer cards in the mail. That was interesting because I just remember you telling about it.
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Posted Sunday, May 24, 2009 10:47 AM By Anne T.
Regarding my post on the American Life League prayer for the conversion of the President, they recommend it be followed up with one Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be to the Father.
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