Pro-life supporters rally at Capitol

A pregnant woman was their example on the Hill

Updated: Tuesday, 24 Feb 2009, 6:31 PM CST
Published : Tuesday, 24 Feb 2009, 10:35 AM CST

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Lawmakers are serious about their bill when they bring in a pregnant woman to get a live ultrasound in the Senate media room at the State Capitol. That was the scene Tuesday, when various pro-life groups gathered with Sen. Dan Patrick, Rep. Frank Corte, Rep. Leo Berman and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst to push for legislation that would require doctors show the ultrasound to a woman who is about to get an abortion.

"I think anyone would want to see fewer abortions," said Dewhurst. "This bill would help do that."

The bill would require every doctor perform an ultrasound before an abortion and give the woman the option to see that ultrasound as well as listen the heartbeat. Though it would be the woman's choice to see the ultrasound, the lawmakers involved could not answer if the woman would be able to choose whether to hear the explanation of the procedure.

"If you break your leg, there is an X-ray before any procedure," said Patrick. "It is good medical practice to have a person see and know about the kind of medical procedure they are about to undergo.

Patrick is finding opposition from various pro-choice groups, like NARAL.

"They should work on a bill that would allow the education and the medical family planning services that they need to prevent these pregnancies would be a better way to spend our time and our energy," said Sara Cleveland with the NARAL group in Austin. "Ultrasounds are medical tools, not political tools."

Some people gathered at the Capitol bringing attention to the flaws of the sexual education system in Texas and how that issue may be the true reason for unwanted pregnancies. Watch the footage below:

In 2005, Gov. Perry signed Senate Bill 419, which requires physicians to obtain written permission from the parent or legal guardian of a minor child before performing an abortion on that child. The statute gives the Texas Medical Board the authority to enforce this requirement by imposing license violations on physicians who violate it. This law is the most stringent protection of parental rights passed in the state to date.