A piece in today's New York Times by Neela Banarjee reports that clinics run by groups that oppose abortion are introducing sonagrams as part of their persuasion.
Dr. Christiansen, who is also a member of the medical advisory board of Carenet, an umbrella group of such centers, added, "Women have a right to know what is going on inside their bodies, and we want to provide women with critical information as they face a life-altering procedure and decision. Women will be empowered to choose life."
Groups that favor abortion rights, however, see the technique as a pressure tactic. Nancy Keenan, president of Naral Pro-Choice America, said that while ultrasounds were legitimate medical care for pregnant women, "they shouldn't be misused to badger or coerce women by these so-called crisis pregnancy centers."
"With or without ultrasound," Ms. Keenan said, "women understand the moral dimensions of their choices."
That last line strikes me. Given that, on some clinics' statistics, 90% of women who see sonagram of the fetus change their mind about having an abortion, what does the sonagram do? Does it simply manipulate morally irrelevant feelings?
Suppose the Bush administration banned publication of photos from Iraq, with defense: "With or without pictures, the American people understand the moral dimensions of this war."
Posted by shea0017 at February 2, 2005 9:00 AM