Too Much Smokie-Smokie, Okie
30 April 2008 by Bob
Women Seeking Abortions Must Have Ultrasounds Against Their Will
Under the guise of obtaining informed patient consent, this new law requires doctors to withhold pregnancy termination until an ultrasound is performed. The law states that either an abdominal or vaginal ultrasound, whichever gives the best image of the fetus, must be done. Neither the patient nor the doctor can decide which type of ultrasound to use, and the patient cannot opt out of the ultrasound and still have the procedure. In effect, then, the legislature has mandated that a woman have an instrument placed in her vagina for no medical benefit. The law makes no exception for victims of rape and incest. By existing law, women already must be told where to find information about fetal development and referred to locations for a free ultrasound before a termination can be scheduled. [...] In a further reversal of standard medical practice, this bill defines failure to perform this unnecessary medical procedure as “unprofessional conduct” and suggests that the state medical board may remove the physician’s license. Failure to perform the ultrasound also leads to fines beginning at $10,000 and increasing to more than $100,000. By comparison, the highest fine for negligent homicide or driving under the influence in Oklahoma is $1,000.
“Whichever gives the best image of the fetus” — ah, yes, a woman now has to get more stuff shoved into her (against her will) to compound her decision to get an abortion. How nice.
Why not just cut to the chase? Let those goddam sexually active women have their abortions, and then we’ll just smack the shit out of them for ever having sex.
30 April 2008, on 12:58 pm
This is so heartless. These asshats assume that women nonchalantly make this decision to abort a pregnancy. Maybe a few women can do this, but the few people I have known who had an abortion, this was quite traumatic and emotionally painful for them. And to add this heartless law is just cruel, and unnecessary since the woman is going to have the abortion anyway. Conservatives are into various forms of torture, though. What do we expect in Oklahoma with all the fundie nutjobs there?
30 April 2008, on 1:32 pm
Wow, is this saudi arabia or something? What an upside down value system… And to think - those ultrasound machines actually have real uses! To some this will all be justified when a handful of women become guilt stricken looking at an ulltrasound image and reverse their decision. Victory for the fetus will be declared! And will anyone make a peep as our culture becomes more and more mysogynisitc? Forget about it, lets just have a beer and go for a drive!
30 April 2008, on 1:55 pm
Frankly. I don’t care what motivates a woman to have an abortion. I don’t care if she’s nonchalant. I don’t care if she uses abortion as birth control. If we have the right to abortion, we have the right to have an abortion for any reason. A right is a right. We don’t have to prove that it’s a difficult decision. We don’t have to offer up excuses for why we feel an abortion is necessary.
Defending abortion by saying how awful we feel about it is just giving ammunition to these creeps who want to make it just a little MORE awful.
Like consensual sexual behavior, it’s nobody else’s business.
30 April 2008, on 1:55 pm
I assume these women will also be charged for the ultrasound, to add to the insult. It is unbelievable that this has happened and I hope the ACLU is listening.
30 April 2008, on 2:10 pm
CG, I agree with you there, and see your point. Good ones. If abortion is legal, it is legal. To put a woman through unnecessary tests is like the article says — a “Big Brother” assault by minority special interests on the doctor-patient relationship”
30 April 2008, on 3:03 pm
Someone wrote an opinion in the local newspaper saying this was a good thing and that the bill was against coerced abortions.
I was considering writing a reply saying that no, it was a bill USING COERCION to get a woman to reconsider.
But that would most likely fall on deaf ears, so I didn’t. I’ve kind of decided to stop writing into that newspaper anyway.
30 April 2008, on 3:05 pm
I’m with Canada Goose all the way. It’s nobody’s damn business why any woman wants or needs an abortion. And Stardust is right, it’s not a decision lightly arrived at. Though I’ve never had one, I’ve accompanied women who have, and it’s been traumatic for them, for whatever their reasons the procedure was done.
And the unbalanced fine for negligent homicide or driving under the influence is laughable- or would be if it wasn’t so out of kilter. And it’s like that in many states.
Jeff, the article states the ultrasound is free. But that doesn’t make up for the forced invasion of a woman’s body for the purpose of instilling guilt. This is simply outrageous!
30 April 2008, on 3:16 pm
Why not encourage people to have a child rather than abort, not only does it Glorify God™ but it boosts the economy — all the checkups etc. of having a child plus pediatric care costs a lot more than an early term abortion.
30 April 2008, on 3:19 pm
*splutters incoherently in rage* Bastards! Assholes! You don’t give a damn about any babies, imaginary or otherwise, let alone women; it’s all about controlling us and making sure we “know and stay in your place, bitches!”
30 April 2008, on 3:29 pm
Coerced abortions? In Oklahoma?
The imagination of right-wing christians is nothing but a vast wasteland filled with blood, bombs, and squirming malformed fetuses. It’s like seeing somebody watch “Faces of Death” and get a hard on. Actually, it’s far worse than that, since they obviously can’t help themselves from believing and acting on their disturbing delusions.
Every time the pencil dick christian squad scores a victory it takes a little piece of my sanity. I would like to see every congressperson who voted for this receive a mandatory medical procedure that I call “checking your colon health with my Louisville slugger.” But they would probably enjoy it too much.
30 April 2008, on 3:33 pm
I can’t believe this bill will stand. With the possible exceptions of mandating vaccinations for school childre or compelling life-saving measures over parents’ objections, the state cannot make medical procedures compulsory.
30 April 2008, on 5:22 pm
With the possible exceptions of mandating vaccinations for school childre
In many states, mine being one of them, you can object to this on religious grounds and that exempts your children from this requirement. That is how fucked up this bill really is! As all political things done by Christians “for thee, not me”.
30 April 2008, on 6:13 pm
I often wonder if these folks actually have any real piety, or if they’re just into appearing more Christian than their neighbors.
Someone who actually read and understood the gospel would have a much more compassionate view toward a woman burdened with an unplanned, unwanted pregnancy (not to mention one incurred via rape!). The Christ of the stories (I’m not saying he even existed) was consistently kind to women, against the prevailing norms of the day (and inciting the ire of the clerics).
My gut tells me this is much more about male power than anything else. Sickos.
30 April 2008, on 7:06 pm
^ Then maybe women will be able to bypass this tyrannical law by claiming that their religion does not allow them to have transvaginal ultrasounds!
(I can’t believe I’m able to find some humor in this - but I better, or explode…)
30 April 2008, on 7:39 pm
“Whichever gives the best image of the fetus”
Uh…wouldn’t the abortion do that? Just askin’.
30 April 2008, on 7:54 pm
Then maybe women will be able to bypass this tyrannical law by claiming that their religion does not allow them to have transvaginal ultrasounds!
Eve, it might just work. This excuse works for lots of other things.
30 April 2008, on 8:00 pm
They could force me to name it and buy a college fund for it. It’s still coming out if I have to buy an industrial hoover and do it myself.
And may I just add…
MOTHERFUCKERS!
30 April 2008, on 8:27 pm
1. Has anyone seen an ultrasound of a fetus in the first trimester? Even at five months it’s a little hard to figure out just what you’re looking at, so the law could backfire. (Of course, these people see Jesus in their nachos and go batshit so go figure.)
2. Maybe an enterprising doctor could make the vaginal scope in the shape of a dildo. That way none of the fundies would want it stuck up her no how.
3. Everything Canada Goose said.
30 April 2008, on 8:36 pm
OLoPM, that was the funniest shit I’ve read in a LONG time…industrial hoover, LMAO!!!!
Seriously though, this is typical of hick-lahoma…I was just there recently for a gig, and I noticed there weren’t any tattoo shops anywhere. Come to find out, in the great state of fucktardia, tats are illegal! Obviously they won’t arrest you simply for having one, but tattoo parlors are against the law. Also, on Sundays, it’s a given you can’t buy alcohol, but I’ve heard they go so far as to cover up the beer coolers in convienience stores (also in Kansas, but I could be mistaken). WTF?!?!?
Why there aren’t MILLIONS of people up in arms over this is beyond me, but I’m assuming it’s because the same male pigs that got this passed probably found a way to keep it relatively quiet as well.
30 April 2008, on 10:31 pm
Thanks Benjamin
Things like this really wind me up.
I am also in agreement with CanadaGoose’s comments.
30 April 2008, on 10:38 pm
So, we can’t get decent medical coverage in the US, and my insurance company is allowed to NOT pay for my torn ACL surgery by claiming it’s “pre-existing” but we CAN throw away time and money on wasted ultrasounds?!!!!!!! I can’t believe the stupidity and pig-headedness of our fellow citizens!
30 April 2008, on 11:03 pm
How about requiring that every elected official have a microphone be on their person at all times so we can hear what they say and what they are doing. Maybe that might increase the honesty and integrity of our politicians.
30 April 2008, on 11:23 pm
Totally outrageous!
Exactly…CanadaGoose…and…
“What’s good for the Goose, is good for…erm…
us GifSters?”
Sorry…I really don’t don’t what I’m saying (wink)…just couldn’t resist some silliness RE this outrage!
You know…”Laugh; and the whole world yada, yadas?”
Ok…I’m NOT sorry…I’m just being sucked into more ‘vacuous’, lame humor…
Actually…OLPM’s vacuum idea might actually deserve some serious research; ala a specially designed attachment?
Call it, something like the…
“Fuck You…Right to Lifer’s!” attachment? It might also add some door to door sales jobs to…erm…’stimulate’ the economy. I guess it could also be sold as a sort of double duty sex toy. Yeah…
“This is just a Stimulation?”
Seriously though, this subject has been a MAJOR pet peeve of mine, regarding arrogant, totally brainwashed, self-righteous boneheads poking their fucking noses in other people’s lives. And when the government starts following those asshat, dictatorial agendas, the metaphorical blood begins to boil.
I’ve so often posted that excellent ffrf article link about the lack of anything in the fucking Babble about abortion; not to mention that, if I’m not mistaken, even the ancient Jewish tradition considered that life only really begins with the FIRST INDEPENDENT BREATH!
Yeah…calling these assholes “Religious Motherfuckers” is definitely NOT using an oxymoron.
More like a: “FuckYouMoron(s)”?
ARGHHETY, ARGHHETTY, ARGHH!!!
I think I need to buy a blood pressure gage!
[Actually, I just started taking metoprolol, today! Just what I need; another addiction!]
30 April 2008, on 11:58 pm
I know this is picky, but the title of this piece hardly rings true. If these uptight religious freaks bothered to learn about the things they prohibit, including weed, abortion, and who knows what else, there might be a lot less stupid laws.
A fat joint, or a thousand, could only do them and their constituents good at this point. Rational thinking or compassion are probably too much to hope for, but they might relax a little.
1 May 2008, on 1:48 am
I volunteer to have an ultrasound machine thingie on hand every time I ejaculate because, by Gob it’s a regular holocaust of Spermatazoa-Americans whenever that meddling raincoat impedes their shower!
1 May 2008, on 10:31 am
Yesterday a similar bill was aborted here in Floriduh.
Jess Wundrum’s comment reminded me of this (among MANY) gem from “Juno”:
Yea, if I could just have the thing and give it to you now, I totally would. But I’m guessing it looks probably like a sea monkey right now and we should let it get a little cuter.
1 May 2008, on 5:04 pm
Spirula, I gotta tell ya, I’m usually ashamed to admit to being from Florida, but that makes me feel somewhat better. Then I remember we elected Jeb Bush and I cower down back into my hole of shame and despair
1 May 2008, on 7:07 pm
It is so obvious that these people hope that an image of the foetus’ “widdle hands” or “widdle face” will make the woman change her mind about the abortion.
As if the only reason any woman could possibly decide to get an abortion is because she just never thought of her pregnancy as anything other than a bulge before.
1 May 2008, on 9:24 pm
I think they’re just trying to soften us up for the Vagicam™. We can implant one in every young woman (except the daughters of the rich, politicos and the well connected) so that they can have a look at their BABY anytime from when they start to have impure thoughts.
2 May 2008, on 1:39 pm
As usual, this practice will impact low-income women the most, because pregnant women of means will still be able to go get their abortions done somewhere that doesn’t require this invasive shit (and then come back, feel guilty and pray and be forgiven, and readjust their masks of righteousness to point out how they’re winning the war on abortion by legally abusing women who don’t have the wherewithall to escape this tyranny). And inequality, misogyny, and hypocrisy will continue to reign over all…
3 May 2008, on 11:46 am
Can the pregnant patient refuse to look at the ultrasound?
3 May 2008, on 9:26 pm
Just imagine being an atheist in this state, especially when we have wackos like Sally Kern, Oral Roberts, and Jim Inhofe.
I had a nice conversation with a more liberal Catholic, though staunch Republican. His argument against abortions and gay marriage was “Well, there is more of us than you, so there.” When I asked what if the shoe was on the other foot he smugly replied, “I don’t have to worry about that, it’s your problem.”
The Republican way: God damn you for having sex out of wedlock (or at least getting caught), but you can’t have an abortion. And we aren’t offering to adopt your abomination, and we want to cut welfare and social aid, so your going to have to give that kid nothing, and then explain that the reason their life sucks was because you couldn’t keep your legs together. Oh, Jesus loves you!
5 May 2008, on 11:06 am
A “BIG” Hi to Atheist Okie!
The first thing that came to my mind reading your comment was personal memories of spending quite a bit of time in Oklahoma when I was traveling with a musical (Lounge style) group back in early 1970. We played clubs in the ‘usual’ places…Okla. City, Lawton’s then “Purple Bunny Club” (Our drummer referred to Lawton as the “Armpit of the Nation”…his ex-military Sargeant was stationed there!), Muskogee (where I KNOW they, and I & some band members, DID smoke a good deal of Maregeewana!).
I have additional “fond” memories of spending a night, totally alone, hugging the floor of the drunk tank in Tulsa’s Ultra high class jail. Nothing too serious…I was stopped for drunk driving on my way to a gal friends pad.
NICE, huh? Yeah…
“Those were the days (daze)!”
OK…that said…my point, REALLY, is that, I’m so glad you embedded your Site link with your comment name. I’ve been checking it out; and was delighted by your personal info and such a marvelous selection of YouTube videos. Some REALLY spot-on stuff!
I recommend doing the same to all our Fellow GifSters.
If you don’t mind, I’ll do a little ‘promotion’ of your Home page right here and now:
http://atheistokie.wordpress.com/
My personal thanks, Atheist Okie!
And, Ummm…”Pleased to meet you!”
5 May 2008, on 9:23 pm
Hehe, thanks Chuck. If I didn’t know better I’d say I wrote this shameless plug.
But I have to give credit to really awesome blogs like this one, Pharyngula, and all the other out and proud atheist bloggers that actually put substance, and not just videos, on their blogs.
Oh…. and Lawton, I wouldn’t say it’s the armpit of the Nation, more like an ass crack after running a marathon. It’s sweaty, it stinks, and you really don’t want to put your hands down there.
Proud Atheist Okie!