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Two pro-life groups are responding to the lawsuit a pro-abortion legal group filed against a new pro-life Louisiana law that would allow women chance to see an ultrasound of their unborn child before the abortion.

The Bioethics Defense Fund and Louisiana Right to Life Federation say the lawsuit is baseless. As LifeNews.com reported yesterday, the New York-based Center for Reproductive Rights, filed suit on behalf of Louisiana abortion businesses and abortion practitioners.

The Ultrasound Before Abortion Act, SB 528, authored by Senator Sharon Weston Broome (D-Baton Rouge), would require ultrasounds to be performed before all abortions in Louisiana.

Women would be given an opportunity to see it or sign a document saying they did not decide to do so. They're normally not given a chance to see ultrasounds of their baby and pro-life advocates hope the ultrasound will persuade some women to choose abortion alternatives.

Dorinda Bordlee, an attorney with BDF and Ben Clapper of LRTL, released a join statement to LifeNews.com.

"The abortion industry’s lawsuit is a baseless attempt to tie up a life-saving law in federal court," they said.

The Louisiana “Ultrasound Before Abortion Act," they said, "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 images, to hear an explanation or to receive a print depicting her unborn child," they added.

Bordlee and BDF pro-life attorney Nikolas T. Nikas are currently reviewing the lawsuit and advising the Attorney General’s office with the goal of having the law take effect in Louisiana as soon as possible.

On Friday, the Center filed a federal challenge against the ultrasound law and a second bill pro-life Gov. Bobby Jindal signed into law that excludes abortion practitioners from participating in a medical malpractice fund administered by the state.

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana, argues that the medical malpractice provision treats abortion practitioners differently than legitimate medical professionals and deprives them of the benefits afforded to healthcare providers who receive that coverage.

The pro-abortion group argues the ultrasound law, which allows women to see their baby, "will be detrimental to the patients' emotional well-being and their relationship with their healthcare provider."

The plaintiffs in the case are a group of Louisiana abortion practitioners located in Shreveport, Bossier City, Baton Rouge, Metairie, and New Orleans.

When used in pregnancy centers, women considering an abortion who see the ultrasound change their mind about the abortion about 80 percent of the time.

Source: LifeNews.com