Urgent: NY Bill Would Make it a Crime for CPC counselor to Refer for an Ultrasound!

Urgent Action Needed Today to Stop Anti-Ultrasound Bill in New York Legislature!!!

From: Chris Slattery, Expectant Mother Care, Expectant Mother Care (914) 224-5773

Thursday Morning, May 27th, 2004

It was just brought to my attention by the NY State Right to Life Committee, yesterday, May 26th, the existence of a very dangerous bill (first proposed in early April) which would make it a crime for for Pro-life crisis pregnancy centers like Expectant Mother Care and other crisis pregnancy centers in NY to make referals for life saving sonograms for moms in in crisis pregnancies!

Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, two years ago, tried to prevent EMC and other centers from making ultrasound appoinments and referals for woman in crisis pregnancy. No law specifically could be used to stop us, but this law would make it a misdemeanor for a crisis pregnancy counselor to make an appointment for a sonogram even if it was performed by a certified ultrasound technician under the supervision of a licensed physician.

Keep in mind:

These anti-ultrasound bills in the NY Assembly and Senate versions could make it a crime:

1. For a woman to request her own ultrasound and for a pro-life counselor to make a direct appointment for this ultraound even though she would be seen by a physician before the sonogram is performed!
2. For a pro-life counselor to make an ultrasound appointment before seeing a physician for a final determination if the sonogram is warranted.

Please call the New York state's switchboard at 518-474-2121 and ask for your Senator and/ or Representative's office.

Keep in mind that the legislature could vote on this Bill on Tuesday, the day after Memeorial Day, so try to call Immediately! Telephone calls are often taken by a staff member and not the actual legislative member. Ask to speak with the aide who handles this bill. If they are not available, you may also leave a message. If you speak with someone other than your legislator, take down their name and title.

Upon reaching your state legislator on the phone, it's easiest to follow these four basic steps:

• IDENTIFY yourself by name and the organization (if any) that you represent or the town from which you are calling.
• EXPLAIN why you are calling: “I am calling to oppose Assembly Bill: AB 10829, Senate Bill: SB 6776. ” Be polite and concise. Don't assume that your legislator has prior knowledge of this issue. Be calm, respectful, and be prepared to educate, using local examples about how Expectant Mother Care and other centers save lives with sonograms and this bill could be used to prosecute pro-life sonograms.referrals
• REQUEST a written response to your phone call if you did not speak to your legislative member. If the legislator requires further information, provide it as soon as possible.
• THANK the person who took the phone call for their time and consideration.

Senate version of the Bill

SB 6776

- Bill Summary -

SKELOS, BALBONI, DeFRANCISCO, HOFFMANN, JOHNSON, LARKIN, LITTLE, McGEE, MORAHAN, PADAVAN, RATH, SEWA - Amd S6509, 6514 & 6516, add S6512-a, Ed L - Provides that the administration of any ultrasound upon a pregnant woman shall only be performed pursuant to an order or a referral therefor by a physician, physician assistant, specialist assistant, nurse practitioner or midwife; prohibits issuance of such referrals and orders for entertainment purposes or any other purpose which is not warranted by the condition of the patient; violation of such provisions shall constitute a class A misdemeanor, professional misconduct, grounds for investigation by the education department and prosecution by the attorney general, and grounds for a cease and desist order.

Assembly Version of the Bill

AB10829

- Bill Summary -

RULES COM (Request of Towns, Clark, Galef, Seddio, Ortiz, Espaillat, Ferrara, Greene, Carrozza, O'Co - Amd SS6509, 6514, 6516 & 6530, add S6512-a, Ed L - Provides that the administration of an ultrasound upon a pregnant woman shall only be performed pursuant to an order or a referral therefor by a physician, physician assistant, specialist assistant, nurse practitioner or midwife; prohibits issuance of such referrals and orders for entertainment purposes or any other purpose which is not warranted by the condition of the patient; provides that violation of such provisions shall constitute a class A misdemeanor, professional misconduct, grounds for investigation by the education department and prosecution by the attorney general, and grounds for a cease and desist order.