You'd think those who say they favour women's autonomy would support a law against co-erced abortions.
Think again.
One bill, HB 5879, requires a physician to perform a Coercion and Intimidation Screening and include in the acknowledgement and consent form “I understand that it is illegal for anyone to coerce or intimidate me into seeking an abortion.”
Another lays down the screening stipulations which include a requirement that the physician give the patient information on how to contact law enforcement and domestic violence shelters if she says she is being intimidated or coerced. Child Protective Services must be contacted if the patient is under 18 and says she is being coerced or intimidated.
HB 5882 establishes criminal penalties. If the pregnant woman is under the age of 18 and the perpetrator of the coercion is the adult father of the unborn child, the punishment would be imprisonment for not more than 1 year or a fine of not more than $5000, or both.
The bills’ definition of “coercion” includes, “physical abuse, stalking, filing or threat to file for divorce, withdrawal or threat to withdraw financial support, change or threaten to change an existing housing arrangement, terminate or change in conditions of employment.”
The Michigan bills recognize that women who abort their children are often under pressure from family members, boyfriends or husbands. An even more sinister side is the evidence that shows the abortion industry is colluding with adult men who sexually abuse young girls and use the local abortion facility to cover up their misdeeds.
source.
People do not often realize that many abortions are not the woman's first choice; they are bullied into having one.
