3.06.2006

Go Read Shakespeare's Sister

“Sweetie, is it okay with you if I get an abortion?”

The Tennessee state legislature is considering a bill that would make it “an offense for a physician to knowingly perform an abortion on a woman who is eighteen (18) years of age or older unless the physician has received from the woman a signed statement indicating that the woman has notified the man by whom she is pregnant that she intends to have an abortion."

The bill provides exceptions if the woman signs a statement saying the pregnancy is a result of rape and has been reported to law enforcement, is unable "after diligent effort" to notify or identify the man (in which case she must file written notice with the Department of Children's Services to be placed on the department's putative father registry), and in the case of medical emergencies when the life of the woman is at risk. Penalties are a Class A misdemeanor punishable by a $5,000 fine for the physician and a $2,000 fine for the woman.
Go read the Rest of Shakespeare's Sister's post. These sorts of partriarchy enforcing laws are coming to a state near you. Soon.

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