Pennsylvania House Bill 1077, entitled The Women’s Right to Know Act, is advancing in the Pennsylvania General Assembly. The bill empowers women by offering truly informed consent before an abortion by providing the opportunity for a woman to view the ultrasound image of her child and observe the heartbeat.
“For too long, women have been pressured into making a decision on abortion without having all the facts,” said Maria Vitale Gallagher, legislative director of the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation. “In order to make an informed decision, women must be given relevant information about the development of the child in the womb, and this legislation helps to provide that.”
Demonstrating its widespread appeal, the bill currently has 112 co-sponsors in the 203-member Pennsylvania House, already above the number needed for final passage. The co-sponsors go beyond party lines with Republicans and Democrats coming together in support of this common sense legislation to protect women.
The prime sponsor of the bill, State Representative Kathy Rapp (R-Warren) detailed in a video address what the Women’s Right to Know Act means to her personally and why she is proud to champion its passage in the House. View VIDEO: State Rep. Kathy Rapp on the Womens Right to Know Act
Nearly two dozen other states have passed similar legislation providing women the chance to view an ultrasound and these laws have withstood court challenges. The most recent example was in Texas, where a judge ruled a Texas ultrasound law was constitutional and could go into effect.
Ultrasound laws are proven to reduce the abortion rate. When mothers are truly informed with accurate medical information regarding their pregnancy, they are more likely to choose life for their unborn children. The most recent data from the Pennsylvania Department of Health showed a slight decline in the number of abortions in the state. In 2010, 36,778 abortions were performed in Pennsylvania. The Women’s Right to Know Act is an important step toward further reducing that number and ensuring the informed consent of every Pennsylvanian woman.
It is a tragedy that so many women are left with lifetimes of grief and regret after abortion. Many claim they were not truly informed about their pregnancy, the development of their unborn child and the consequences of abortion. A sad irony is that the pro-abortion movement which purports to be “pro-woman” rails against providing mothers with medically accurate information critical to making a grave and irrevocable decision.
“This legislation represents a victory for patients’ rights. Women have a right to all relevant information about their pregnancies. With this additional knowledge, women can be empowered to make informed choices for themselves and their families,” Gallagher added.