Abortion

Michigan Vies For “Coercion Test,” Virginia Wants to Ban “Sex Selected” Abortions

More legislation to fix issues that don't really exist.

Anti-choice activists’ love of creating laws to deal with issues that don’t exist is continuing, this time in Michigan and Virginia.

Via Michigan Messenger:

A new anti-abortion-rights bill introduced in the Michigan House Thursday calls for criminalization of “coercion to abort.”

In its current draft, House Bill 5134 mandates a “physician or qualified person assisting the physician shall orally screen the patient for coercion to abort and domestic violence using the screening tools developed by the department.”

If a patient discloses coercion to abort, the physician must:

  • Inform the patient that coercing a woman to have an abortion is illegal and grounds for a civil action under which “she may receive financial compensation for her damages.”
  • Postpone the abortion for at least 24 hours after coercion has been disclosed.
  • If a patient under 18 discloses domestic violence or coercion to abort, the physician must report the situation to a local Child Protective Services office.
  • The facility providing abortions must conspicuously display information about violence against women.

Ooh, “financial compensation!”  Play the “all women will do anything for money” card while telling them that they don’t know their own minds. 

And in Virginia, the biggest problem facing the state appears to be women choosing to abort because of the gender of their babies.  Even though there’s no proof of it being a problem in the country.

The Washington Post reports:

There are four states in the nation where it’s illegal to abort a fetus because of its sex. Randy Minchew would like to make it five.

The Leesburg Republican, a lawyer running for Virginia’s House of Delegates, says he will push to outlaw what’s known as “sex-selective abortion” if elected.

Even anti-choice advocates say it’s really not a priority, but that “it’s a conversation that should be had.”  Because proposing unnecessary restrictions on reproductive health is always a good conversation starter.