Michigan Thinks All Women Deserve Pre-Abortion Transvaginal Ultrasounds

Michigan Republicans, who seem to have experienced collective amnesia (Virginia ’12 shitstorm, anyone?), introduced a bill on Tuesday requiring all women to undergo a transvaginal ultrasound before getting an abortion.

The legislation, introduced in the House, mandates the “performance of a diagnostic ultrasound examination of the fetus at least two hours before an abortion is performed” and requires women to sign a consent form prior to the abortion, because an abortion is like a field trip.

Katie Carey, a spokeswoman for Michigan’s House Democratic Leader Tim Greimel, confirmed to TMP that the bill would ensure transvaginal ultrasounds for women since it requires the use of ultrasound equipment “providing the most visibly clear image of the gross anatomical development of the fetus and the most audible fetal heartbeat.” That is a more complicated way of saying “stick it up your vagina, ladies.”

It’s also another way for anti-abortion advocates to make it harder for doctors to do their jobs by requiring them to buy a bunch of equipment no one wants or needs — except the mostly male legislators, of course.

[TPM]