DES MOINES, Iowa — As the 2015 Iowa legislative session drew to a close, one of the final bills under consideration sparked intense debate across party lines. The proposed legislation sought to require physicians to offer women the opportunity to view an ultrasound of their fetus before proceeding with an abortion.
Jenifer Bowen of Iowa Right to Life, a long-time advocate for abortion policy reform, expressed disappointment that the bill faced significant legislative hurdles. Bowen cited statistics suggesting that a majority of women choose life after seeing an ultrasound image of their unborn child.
“Anywhere between 70 and 90 percent of women chose life when they see the image of their baby on that screen,” Bowen stated, emphasizing the bill’s potential impact.
In addition to the ultrasound requirement, the legislation also included provisions mandating that healthcare providers present information on alternatives to abortion, such as adoption.
However, the bill faced strong opposition from pro-choice advocates, including Penny Dickey of Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, who argued that such measures interfere with personal medical decisions.
“The lawmakers should really stay out of their private medical decisions,” Dickey asserted, reinforcing Planned Parenthood’s stance on maintaining reproductive rights.
As Iowa lawmakers worked to finalize the 2015 session, the abortion debate once again highlighted the deep divide on the issue, with both sides firmly standing their ground.
Source:
- KCCI Des Moines, Abortion bill one of last bills lawmakers working on, June 5, 2015
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