Texas Sonogram Bill Contradicts Republican Party Views

Wednesday, 06 July 2011 21:46

Texas' new sonogram bill features a host of requirements and hoops that women must jump thorough in order to obtain a legal abortion in the State of Texas, and contradicts traditional Republican viewpoints. HB-15 specifies what a doctor must do and say during the sonogram procedure and includes disciplinary action for doctors who get it wrong.

The Texas Medical Association has expressed concerns because the modified bill that Gov. Rick Perry signed into law changed the requirement of discipline from “may” to “shall.” This makes discipline mandatory and physicians who fail to perform sonograms exactly in the stipulated manner could lose their licenses. Basically, doctors could be punished for making medical decisions— apparently the Texas legislature is better able to decide what is best for patients.

The biggest contradiction lies in the party's claim to respect the sacred doctor/patient relationship and patients’ rights of choice. Isn't that the argument they used to oppose Obama’s health care legislation? Perhaps Republicans feel that regulating health care is acceptable when doing so advances their own agenda.