The U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal on June 15 from North Carolina calling for the revival of a previous state law that required doctors to show and describe ultrasounds to women seeking an abortion.
The ruling of the justices left an appeals court ruling in place from 2011 when it was decided the law is ideological in nature.
Sarah Preston, executive director of the N.C. American Civil Liberties Union, said the Supreme Court’s denial was good news, as she views the law to be intrusive and unconstitutional.
“We thought it would be very damaging to the doctor-patient relationship," Preston said. "It transforms the physician into the mouthpiece of the state and undermines the trust that’s necessary between the doctor and the patient."
She said the law wouldn't take into account each patient's specific circumstances.
“It compels the doctor to say something that is not medically necessary and they might not even agree with. It sort of applies cookie-cutter health care to every situation.”
The law would not allow for women to opt out of the presentation of the ultrasound, something Preston said she feels is troubling, as women who do not want to see or hear would only be able to avert their eyes and attempt to not listen.
Barbara Holt, president of N.C. Right to Life, said she believes the information from the showing and description of an ultrasound is necessary, much like the safety information given on packs of cigarettes or on airplanes.
“If the ultrasound law had not been adjoined, quite possibly more lives would have been saved, and more mothers would have been spared from making an unfortunate decision they will have to live with the rest of their lives,” Holt said.
