Postponement of an abortion-ultrasound bill in the House of Delegates on Tuesday left the controversy alive and on national television for one more day, while Del. Kathy Byron told reporters the issue is being distorted.
Byron, R-Campbell County, said she is sticking to her message that requiring an ultrasound is intended to make abortions safer by determining gestational age of a fetus. Many abortion clinics perform them routinely, she said, and many news outlets have not reported that aspect of the story.
Democrats asked the House to drop the bill, saying it has brought shame on Virginia. Their request was defeated 68-32, meaning full debate will come later, possibly today.
“No longer is the national conversation about Virginia being the best place to do business,” Del. Charniele Herring, D-Alexandria, said in a House floor speech Tuesday.
“The national conversation is about whether a vaginal probe is a mandatory prerequisite before a woman exercises her constitutional right.”
Byron said the bill “has garnered a lot of public attention. But there is misinformation going out as well,” implying a scope used internally is the only way to perform the ultrasound — particularly in the first two months of a pregnancy.
“The bill does not require a specific ultrasound,” Byron said.
Asked whether she hoped abortion rights established in the Roe v. Wade decision would be overturned in the future, Byron replied, “I can’t say that’s never going to happen. But that is a choice women are going to make. And I just think they should have all the information” an ultrasound can provide.
Planned Parenthood clinics that perform abortions use ultrasounds, Byron said, adding it is a standard practice in many other clinics as well.
On the other hand, “there has been testimony that indicated” women “are not getting all of the information,” Byron said, and her bill seeks to remedy that.
Opponents argued the ultrasound requirement would hinder access to abortion, and offering women a view of the ultrasound image is intended to discourage abortions.
A poll last week indicated 55 percent of Virginians oppose the ultrasound bill, but Byron said, “Polls can show all different things. We had a poll that shows a majority of women support an ultrasound.”
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