Law & Government

Idaho Posts List of Locations With Free Ultrasounds in Effort to Save Unborn Babies

Ultrasound II
BOISE, Idaho —
The Department of Health and Welfare in Idaho has posted a list of locations that provide free ultrasounds for pregnant mothers in compliance with a new law that is meant to help save the lives of unborn babies.

In March, Idaho lawmakers passed H.B. 516, which mandates that a list be “compiled by the Department of Health and Welfare of health care providers, facilities and clinics that offer to perform ultrasounds free of charge and that have contacted the department annually with a request to be included in the list.”

It also required that the Department release a statement “that the patient has a right to view an ultrasound image and to hear the heart tone monitoring of her unborn child and that she may obtain an ultrasound free of charge.”

The bill passed the House 56-13 and likewise overwhelmingly cleared the Senate 28-7, and was quickly signed into law by Gov. C.L. Otter.

“This bill will only empower women more,” Rep. Heather Scott (R-Boise) told reporters. “This informs the mother that the ‘piece of tissue’ inside her has hands, feet, eyes, looks like a baby and has a heartbeat.”

Now, the Department has followed through with the requirements of the law by posting the list on its website, which also includes illustrations of the various stages of fetal development, as well as a free helpline where mothers can receive help both during and after their pregnancy.

“According to Idaho Statute 18-609, a patient contemplating abortion has ‘a right to view an ultrasound image and hear heart tone monitoring’ and ‘she may obtain an ultrasound free of charge,’” the site reads. “This list includes providers, facilities, and clinics across the state who offer ultrasounds free of charge.”

Locations include A Blessed Beginning in Bonners Ferry, WISH Medical in Moscow, Stanton Healthcare in Boise and Compassion and Hope Pregnancy Center in Pocatello.

“Ultrasound imagery is a game changer,” Brandi Swindell of Stanton Health Care told the Associated Press.

Planned Parenthood is not on the list as it does not offer ultrasounds for free.

As previously reported, Philadelphia legal writer, educator and Christian apologist Francis Wharton, who wrote several books on American law, penned an entire chapter on abortion in his book “American Criminal Law,” which was published in 1855.

Wharton called abortionists “persons who are ready to degrade their humanity to this occupation” and stated in regard to abortion in general, “Such conduct cannot be too strongly condemned, and is the more deserving of receiving the punishment awarded for the criminal offense in question.”

He proceeded to outline the wonders of fetal development in his book, showing that even in the fourth and fifth week of development, the facial features of the baby are distinctly recognized.

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