A couple of years ago, the members of the Georgia General Assembly passed the “Woman’s Right to Know Act,” a law that mandates physicians to provide pertinent information 24 hours in advance to women who contemplate terminating their pregnancy, so that women can make an informed decision. 

Because of the “Woman’s Right to Know Act,” women seeking an abortion are now given information about abortion procedures, the medical risks associated with both an abortion and childbirth and the description of fetal development at two-week intervals.  Doctors also must offer women information about public and private services available to assist throughout their pregnancy, upon the birth of the child and while the child is growing into adulthood.  Information on the financial obligations of the father and adoption also is provided. 

As you can imagine, the debate on the floor of the Senate and House was quite contentious at times.  Abortion is a topic that many citizens are very passionate about, but I believe we did the right thing in protecting women across Georgia and their unborn children.  The enacting legislation, House Bill 197, passed in 2005 and requires a minor to be accompanied by an appropriately identified parent or legal guardian prior to an abortion.  The bill also stated that women be given medically accurate information regarding the procedure and alternatives to abortion.  Information must be provided 24 hours prior to the procedure and each woman seeking an abortion must give written consent.  The measure also redefined abortion as any procedure to terminate a pregnancy. 

According to the Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR), since this act went into effect, somewhere between 32,700 and 40,500 women talked with their physician about the possibility of an abortion, and after they were provided with the information, more than 10,000 chose to carry their baby to term.  Likewise, of the nearly 2,300 minors who considered terminating their pregnancy, less than 500 actually went on to abort their child.  The “Woman’s Right to Know Act” has helped save the lives of 1,800 babies of teenaged mothers and over 10,000 babies of the women of Georgia. 

I have no doubt that an unplanned or unwanted pregnancy is frightening for most women, but it is vital that they understand the implications of having an abortion.  It is devastating that some women make the tragic mistake of having an abortion based on fear, lack of resources or ignorance.  This is exactly why we passed the “Woman’s Right to Know Act.” 

Earlier this year, the legislature passed, and Governor Perdue signed, legislation that will give women the ability to view the image of their unborn fetus through an ultrasound or sonogram and listen to the child’s heartbeat.  House Bill 147 amended the “Woman’s Right to Know Act,” so that women who are seeking an abortion be offered an opportunity to undergo an ultrasound if the imaging is available and be given the chance to view the ultrasound image and listen to the fetal heartbeat.  

As part of the informed consent process to an abortion, at least 24 hours before the procedure, a woman must be given a geographically-arranged list of clinics that perform ultrasounds free of charge.  If an ultrasound is performed, the woman must certify in writing (prior to the abortion) that she was given the opportunity to view the image and listen to the heartbeat and whether or not she chose to do so.  No woman will be forced to have an ultrasound, but I think that the ability to see a sonogram of your child and listen to its heartbeat can open the eyes of women wrestling with the idea of abortion. 

As a father, seeing my children grow and develop has been an amazing experience.  Having all the information available is a vital tool in preventing an abortion.  If we can prevent one woman from having to make that tragic decision, then I believe we have done the right thing for all women and their babies. 

As a lawmaker, it’s gratifying to know that through our actions, many more women are choosing life.   By educating women who are faced with this type of decision, and providing them with every bit of necessary information, many lives are ultimately being realized and many lives are being saved.

Please feel free to contact Sen. Chip Pearson at his office in Atlanta at 404.656.9221 or by email at chip@team51.org.