Lazich misrepresented National Abortion Federation guidelines
June 24, 2013
This weekend, the Wisconsin State Journal posted my letter to the editor on Wisconsin state Representative Mary Lazich, R-New Berlin misrepresentation of NAF’s clinical policy guidelines:
Last week the Wisconsin Legislature passed misguided legislation that would require a woman to have a medically unnecessary ultrasound before she can obtain abortion care.
To support this legislation, Sen. Mary Lazich, R-New Berlin, misrepresented the National Abortion Federation’s clinical policy guidelines.
NAF is the professional association of abortion providers in North America, and our guidelines set the standards for quality abortion care. We do not require an ultrasound for first trimester abortion care because there is no evidence that doing so improves patient outcomes or safety. Abortion is already one of the safest medical procedures in the United States.
We fully support a woman’s right to accurate and complete information, including the option to view an ultrasound image if she chooses, but this shouldn’t be legislated.
This law is about dissuading women from choosing abortion. It disrespects women, and wrongly concludes they choose abortion without having seriously considered their options.
The bill is disappointing. And it is inaccurate to infer that our clinical policy guidelines support such an unwarranted intrusion.