It's just bullying from those with one political view over those with another. The legislators are anti-abortion, and have just found a way to impose their view without actually "preventing" abortions. It's inaccurate to call it paternalism--although I'll agree that the Kennedy decision mentioned has paternalistic connotations.

I just don't think there's anything to be gained by misuing the term "paternalism," which is loaded with quite specific political and social meaning. This is not a result of legislatures suggesting they "know what's best" for people. It's simply state legislatures trying to evade supreme court decisions.

moonwatcher:

But wanting to outlaw abortion is the very definition of thinking you "know what's best" for women, is it not? Particularly since anti-choice rhetoric has been moving toward the "abortion hurts women" idea.

No. It's believing that fetuses are humans requiring legal protection. It's WRONG; it's based more on religion than rationality; it's unavoidably INTRUSIVE on women. But it's not based on one group of people imagining they know what's "best" for the woman involved.

Perhaps it can be viewed as arising from thinking "If only those women SAW what the reality was, they would change their minds" but I think that falls short of the real definition of paternalism. They're only trying to come up with whatever they can to stop abortions.

I'd rather see attempts to stop this that confront the real issue: the state is being EXTREMELY intrusive whenever it thrusts itself into MINOR details of medical procedures--especially, JESUS, structuring little speeches that need to be made, etc.

It's BULLSHIT, but it's not PATERNALISM.

moonwatcher:

But wanting to outlaw abortion is the very definition of thinking you "know what's best" for women, is it not? Particularly since anti-choice rhetoric has been moving toward the "abortion hurts women" idea.

You could equally argue that wanting to outlaw rape is the very definition of thinking you "know what's best" for men. After all, why should we impose our views of sex on men like that? If they want to rape, then that should be a personal choice, right?

Or maybe it isn't just about what men want.

Either your argument is extremely arcane, or it's nonsensical.

Xando:

You could equally argue that wanting to outlaw rape is the very definition of thinking you "know what's best" for men. After all, why should we impose our views of sex on men like that? If they want to rape, then that should be a personal choice, right?

StevieN ..... In response to:

" The legislators are anti-abortion, and have just found a way to impose their view without actually "preventing" abortions."

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The ultra-sound is to protect the women who are aborting as well as the doctors performing them from being sued.

When I was 16 I was co-erced into an abortion by my boyfriend who told me "he didn't want me, didn't want the baby, and no one would want me with a kid". At that time there were no mandatory ultra-sounds. There must have been a "mistake" with dates; ie date of last menstrual cycle.

I was farther along then thought; and consequently just about bled to death. I hemorraged for 5 months.

While my fellow classmates got to go on a Grade 12 trip to our provincial government building, I was at home hemorraging.

So you see, there is a health reason to the mom for the ultra sound, and a "monetary" reason for the doctor who is perfoming the abortion.

Your information is suspect, especially with the "monetary reason for the doctor" claim.

A hemorrhage is not normal after an abortion at any stage of gestation. Rather, it is an indication that followup medical care is required. You would not survive a day with a hemorrhage, let alone five months.

If it's even a she. Most of the trolls on abortion issues are men. Staying at home "hemorraghing for five months" and missing a "grade twelve trip" sounds like a quite young person.

Hemorraghing for five months would really reduce the RBC, wouldn't it?