Wait, Amy Poehler was back on Weekend Update last episode?

Wait, so it's ok to shove all the equipment needed for the abortion up a woman's lady cave, but not this one device? I'm pro- choice, but I'm missing how this is more invasive than the abortion itself. Weak debate.

Bonus: When that video ends, Youtube is kind enough to recommend plenty of vaginal ultrasound vids. Thanks youtube.

DreadfulPenny81:  The bill orders doctors to perform “fetal ultrasound imaging and auscultation of fetal heart tone services.”  Here's how the transvaginal ultrasound works in:
If you're less than 12 weeks pregnant, which is when the majority of abortions occur, a fetal ultrasound requires a transvaginal ultrasound. It's the only way to do the procedure. You can't do an external ultra-sound at that stage. (Also, depending on VA medical standards, a woman may have to WAIT to get the abortion, so that the fetus can sufficiently develop in order to meet the state's ultrasound requirements.) In other words, before getting an abortion, the state forces a woman to submit to a medically unnecessary procedure. One that involves shoving a soundmachine up her vagina.  “So, you've got appendicitis? Well, before I prescribe some anti-biotics, let me check your prostate. No reason, it's just that the state requires it. Now bend over.”

Virginia sucks. I should know, I live here. Oh, and this horrendous legislature already repealed a limit on the number of monthly handgun purchases (now unlimited) to help supply inner DC and truck up to New York (don't worry - we don't have to register handguns here! yay!) and they have on the table bill for 'constitutional carry' (no permit to conceal guns on your person) so you can tote all your handguns around. That's how I can tell this abortion thing is about safety. After all, isn't that why republicans want to flood the streets with unlimited concealed handguns? Safety of course!

For DreadfulPenny: There are articles like this that imply that particular type of ultrasound would need to be done.  “Tarina Keene of NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia says 90 percent of abortions take place early in the pregnancy, at a time when the fetus is as small as a grain of rice or a kidney bean. She says that means the only way an ultrasound technician or doctor could comply with the bill's requirements would include going inside the woman with ultrasound equipment, rather than using the external ultrasound technology many people know.” Source: http://www.wtop.com/?nid=120&sid=2752666 So, while no mention of “transvaginal ultrasound” would be found in the bill, to comply with the law, that type of ultrasound would be required. Transvaginal ultrasound is also used during pregnancy to: Evaluate cases of threatened miscarriage
Listen to the unborn baby's heartbeat
Look at the placenta
Look for the cause of bleeding
Monitor the growth of the embryo or fetus early in the pregnancy
See if the cervix is changing or opening up when labor is starting early

I don't support the bill, but there's no mention of “transvaginal ultrasound” anywhere in the bill. Is there a Liberal branch of the tin-foil hat brigade that's spreading that around or what?