Tennessee: Don't Force Women Choosing Abortion to Undergo Invasive Ultrasound!

Tennessee Rep. Rick Womick (R) has filed a bill that would require women seeking abortions to undergo an ultrasound between 1 and 3 days before the procedure. Horrifically, it would also require the technician to show the image to the woman or to describe the image if she refuses to look. The technician also would be required to make the heartbeat audible, if possible, and to describe it.

Women choosing to undergo abortions should not be subject to puritanical regulations that seek to make women feel guilty for a choice they've made. Please sign this petition to demand Tennessee stop the bill that would force women to undergo invasive ultrasounds before an abortion!

The passage of Amendment 1 in early November changed the Tennessee Constitution to specify that it does not protect abortion rights. Now, Rep. Womick is trying to leverage this fact to force women to undergo unjust and unfair procedures that undermine their right to bodily autonomy.

Womick said his concern was to “fully inform the mother of what she is doing.” His remarks illustrate a paternalistic attitude that implies women make the decision to have an abortion lightly, when really nothing could be further from the truth. Women choose to end unwanted pregnancies for many reasons, including financial instability, desire to focus on a career, lack of support system, and simply, a feeling that they're not ready to be a mother. It is never an easy or flippant decision.

Please sign this petition to demand Tennessee stop plans to force women to undergo an invasive ultrasound before an abortion!