For Immediate Release
August 9, 2010
Joint
Statement of
Louisiana Right to Life
and the Bioethics Defense Fund
on the federal
suit challenging Louisiana's new Ultrasound Law
New Orleans, LA -- On Friday afternoon, the Center for
Reproductive Rights, in conjunction with six abortion facilities in Louisiana,
filed suit in a Baton Rouge federal district court challenging the recently
enacted Louisiana "Ultrasound Before Abortion Act."
Benjamin Clapper, Director of Louisiana Right to Life
Federation, and Dorinda Bordlee, Senior Counsel of the Bioethics Defense Fund,
representing two organizations that assisted Senator Sharon Weston Broome in
the bill's drafting and legislative progress, issued the following statement:
"The Louisiana abortion industry's
lawsuit is a baseless attempt to tie-up this life-saving law in federal court. The Louisiana 'Ultrasound Before Abortion
Act' promotes informed decisions, and respects the woman's right to have full
access to medical information about her pregnancy and to the images of her
unborn child. The Louisiana law
mandates that an ultrasound be performed to determine viability and health
issues, but it is strictly optional whether the woman chooses to view the
ultrasound, to hear an explanation or to receive a print." Bioethics Defense Fund is currently reviewing the lawsuit
and consulting with the Attorney General's office with the goal of having the
law take effect in Louisiana as soon as possible.
A summary and link to the text of the law can be found at
http://bdfbuzz.wordpress.com.
For more information, please contact either Dorinda Bordlee
or Benjamin Clapper.
###
Contact: LA Right to Life: Benjamin Clapper
504-228-4273
| bclapper@prolifelouisiana.org
Contact: Bioethics Defense Fund: Dorinda Bordlee
504-231-7234
| dbordlee@bdfund.org
