North Carolina babies may not survive judicial review

In a tragic setback for life, a federal judge in North Carolina has blocked part of that state's new abortion law ruling that providers are not required to show an ultrasound image of the baby to a woman, nor are they required to describe its features or let her listen to the heartbeat prior to an abortion.

RALEIGH, NC (Catholic Online) - The law takes effect today, however US District Judge Catherine Eagles' ruling puts an important part of it on hold until further hearings can be conducted.

North Carolina supported the bill and passed it arguing that showing the image to a woman seeking an abortion along with other information could save children, and save mothers from the emotional distress associated with the horrors of abortion. Experts and proponents also said it would also reduce the influence of possible coercion.

In an astounding statement, Eagles wrote in her injunction that North Carolina officials, "have not articulated how the speech-and-display requirements address the stated concern in reducing compelled abortions, and none is immediately apparent." 

The ACLU, and representatives for abortion providers are arguing that showing the woman her baby four hours before an abortion, would subject woman to emotional pain, and violate medical ethics of doctors.

The ACLU said, "If the ultrasound requirements were put into effect, this law would place doctors in a murky legal situation and inflict unnecessary harm on women." In issuing this statement, the ACLU is disregarding the body of medical and psychological evidence that abortions do in fact inflict, on women.

It also ignores the lethal trauma inflicted on the baby.

The judge is allowing other parts of the law to remain in place, including a 24 hour waiting period prior to an abortion. That time is intended to allow a woman to make an informed decision. The new law includes making information about alternatives to abortion available. In a solitary stroke of good fortune, the states abortion providers have not challenged this requirement.

Republicans argue that because the majority provisions of the law have been upheld, it is a victory for those who support life. However, if the ultrasound requirements do not survive judicial review, the sad fact is, thousands of children may not either.

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