We testified before many comittees on a variety of bills during the 2009 Legislative Session--check out our testimony!
Appropriations Committee
Testimony of Jillian Gilchrest, Executive Director, February 11, 2009
Good evening Senator Harp, Representative Geragosian, and members of the Appropriations Committee. My name is Jillian Gilchrest and I am a steering committee member and legislative chair to the Young Women’s Leadership Program, a project of the Permanent Commission on the Status of Women.
The Young Women's Leadership Program (YWLP) was established in 2006 and is lead by a group of young women representing a wide variety of career fields and areas of expertise. Focusing on ages 18-35, the mission of the YWLP is to promote awareness and inspire and empower young women to emerge as leaders. I am here in opposition of the Governor’s proposed elimination of the Permanent Commission on the Status of Women (PCSW).
I was asked to join the YWLP at its inception while employed at the Connecticut General Assembly as a Legislative Aide and Committee Clerk for this very committee. To be asked to join the YWLP, a project of the PCSW, was a tremendous honor for me. As an undergraduate at the University of Connecticut I had attended PCSW events that encouraged female participation in government, and had looked up to an institution with such a long history of promoting women’s equality.
My experiences with the PCSW, as a member of the Young Women’s Leadership Program have been invaluable to me and my development as a leader. Our program has over 320 members and has accomplished quite a bit during our nearly three years in existence. We have conducted body image workshops at college campuses throughout Connecticut, legislative advocacy trainings to students and young professionals, have held networking events and have plans to offer trainings on career development, financial planning, and home ownership.
The PCSW Young Women’s Leadership Program provides Connecticut’s young women with a network within which to develop themselves and their careers. Many of our members struggle to find a network once they have graduated or moved into the work force. The PCSW’s Young Women’s Leadership Program encourages young women to develop as leaders in Connecticut, whether that is in their family life, professional life, or public life.
In addition to our leadership development and networking programs, the YWLP is the voice of young women at the legislature. Too often, the voices of young women, ages 18-35 are left out of policy decisions and debates. The YWLP has testified on more than 75 pieces of legislation, providing a unique perspective on such things as bullying, the solicitation of credit cards, affordable housing, and reproductive health. We engage with our members about the legislative process and incorporate their opinions in the development of our legislative priorities.
For me personally, being a steering committee member of the Young Women’s Leadership Program has had a direct impact on my life. When I joined the YWLP, I had aspirations of being a leader on women’s issues in the state, but didn’t quite have the leadership skills to make that vision a reality. Since joining the YWLP, I have become a board member of the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence, a trustee of the National Association of Social Work Connecticut Chapter Political Action Committee, and the Executive Director of NARAL Pro-Choice Connecticut, a statewide non-profit organization.
I understand that our state and our country is facing harsh economic times and some cuts are necessary, but to eliminate the Permanent Commission on the Status of Women would be a grave loss to this state. Over their 35 year history, the PCSW has been a leader on women’s equality in this state and nationally, but the work isn’t over.
The young women I know are still struggling with how to balance work and family, how to negotiate a salary that is comparable to their male counterpart, and how to protect themselves against sexual violence and discrimination. We need female leaders in this state to represent us and our concerns. Please do not eliminate the Permanent Commission on the Status of Women and the Young Women’s Leadership Program.
Thank you.
Appropriations Committee, Department of Public Health Budget
Testimony of Jillian Gilchrest, Executive Director , February 20, 2009
Good afternoon Senator Harp, Representative Geragosian, and members of the Appropriations Committee. My name is Jillian Gilchrest and I am the executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Connecticut and Vice Chair to the Connecticut Coalition for Choice. NARAL Pro-Choice Connecticut is a statewide political advocacy non-profit that works to guarantee every woman the right to make personal decisions regarding the full range of reproductive choices and the Connecticut Coalition for Choice is comprised of 15 organizations that collectively represent over 130,000 individuals statewide.
I am here this afternoon to express my concerns with the Governor’s proposed cuts to the Department of Public Health budget as they pertain to reproductive health. In particular,
· a $200,000 cut to Family Planning Services,
· a $3 million cut to AIDS services that would result in pre-FY 08 funding levels, and
· a complete elimination of funding for the Fetal & Infant Mortality Review.
As I said on Wednesday when I testified before you, I understand that our state is in the midst of extremely difficult economic times, and I am merely cautioning you on the future financial impacts that these proposed budget cuts can have on our state and its citizens.
One quarter of women ages 18-29 are uninsured, making them more likely than any other group to be uninsured[i], so publicly funded family planning is a vital service that not only prevents unintended pregnancies but also unintended costs down the road. The cutting of family planning dollars coupled with the 2005 federal oversight that sent birth control prices soaring to the $50 range on college campuses could have an immediate and long lasting effect on young women of childbearing age in the state.
In the U.S., more than 25 percent of new infections of HIV/AIDS are in women. And women of color are especially impacted by the disease, with HIV/AIDS being the leading cause of death for African American women aged 25 to 34.[ii] The Governor’s proposed budget calls for a $3 million cut to the AIDS services line item, leaving thousands of the 10,860 people living with HIV/AIDS in the state without access to healthcare, medications, food, insurance, and housing.
Our state and our country have done a good job of preventing perinatal transmission of HIV/AIDS, transmission from mother to child during pregnancy, labor, delivery or breastfeeding. If the state cuts $3 million from HIV/AIDS services, we risk having women infected with HIV/AIDS not receiving the proper prenatal healthcare that they need.
Lastly, the Governor’s budget has proposed to eliminate completely the funding for the state’s Fetal & Infant Mortality Review programs. Fetal and infant mortality review is an important public health strategy for identifying risk factors for perinatal morbidity and mortality and for developing information that can be used to design community interventions to improve the health of women and infants.
The overall goal of Fetal & Infant Mortality Review is to enhance the health and well-being of women, infants and families by improving the community resources and service delivery systems. It would be a huge disservice to our state, in particular, our state’s racial and ethnic minorities who experience greater numbers of fetal and infant death, to eliminate funding for the Fetal & Infant Mortality Review.
I thank you for your time today and for the work you have ahead of you.
[i]Raising Women’s Voices, 2009
[ii]Women & HIV/AIDS, women’shealth.gov
Appropriations Committee, Department of Social Services Budget
Testimony of Jillian Gilchrest, Executive Director, February 18, 2009
Good evening Senator Harp, Representative Geragosian and members of the Appropriations Committee. My name is Jillian Gilchrest and I am the executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Connecticut and Vice Chair to the Connecticut Coalition for Choice. NARAL Pro-Choice Connecticut is a statewide political advocacy non-profit that works to guarantee every woman the right to make personal decisions regarding the full range of reproductive choices and the Connecticut Coalition for Choice is comprised of 15 organizations that collectively represent over 130,000 individuals statewide.
I am here tonight to express two concerns with the Governor’s proposed cuts to the Department of Social Services budget—the elimination of prenatal services for women who don’t qualify for Medicaid and the elimination of Teen Pregnancy Prevention Block Grants. Understanding full well that our state is in the midst of extremely difficult economic times, I am merely cautioning you on the future financial impacts of the Governor’s proposed budget on our state and its citizens.
The Governor has proposed to eliminate funding for prenatal services for women who don’t qualify for Medicaid-- undocumented women. There is certainly disagreement over whether public dollars should be used to provide medical services to undocumented immigrants, but the bottom line is that undocumented immigrants seek medical care, and it is a lot more cost effective to provide prenatal services than it is to provide neonatal services and long term care.
When women don’t receive prenatal care they are at greater risk for low birth weight and pre-term births. They also face longer hospital stays, increased costs of neonatal care, and increased costs for long term care. According to a study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, for every dollar cut from public funding of prenatal care for undocumented women, there is an increase of $4.63 in long term care[ii]. So if the state of Connecticut agrees to the Governor’s proposed elimination of prenatal services, we are looking at a short term gain of $2 million with a long term cost of over $9 million.
The Governor has also proposed to eliminate funding of the state’s Teen Pregnancy Prevention Block Grants which currently fund only a handful of programs statewide. Just last June, a department spokesman for DSS was quoted in the Norwich Bulletin as saying, “The state recognizes the need to enhance teen pregnancy prevention efforts”. What a difference a year makes—and yet teen pregnancy rates are once again on the rise and the media is laced with images of teen moms.
Unfortunately, the Governor’s proposal is once again short-sighted. Eliminating funding of the state’s Teen Pregnancy Prevention Block Grants will cost the state more in the long term.
I thank you for your time today and for the work you have ahead of you. Thank you.
Human Services Committee, HB 6402, An Act Concerning Maximization of Medicaid Reimbursement for the State of Connecticut and Federal Medical Assistance Percentages
Testimony of Jillian Gilchrest, Executive Director, February 17, 2009
Good afternoon Senator Doyle, Representative Walker and members of the Human Services Committee. My name is Jillian Gilchrest and I am the executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Connecticut, a statewide non-profit whose mission is to develop and sustain a constituency that uses the political process to guarantee every woman the right to make personal decisions regarding the full range of reproductive choices, including preventing unintended pregnancy, bearing healthy children, and choosing legal abortion.
I am here in support of HB 6402, An Act Concerning Maximization of Medicaid Reimbursements for the State of Connecticut and Federal Medical Assistance Percentages. Currently, the state of Connecticut has the opportunity to receive a 90% federal Medicaid match—when the state’s normal federal match is 50%--by applying for a Section 1115 waiver otherwise known as the family planning waiver.
The family planning waiver provides Medicaid coverage for family planning services to individuals in households with income up to 185% of the Federal Poverty Level who are not otherwise eligible for Medicaid-- individuals of child bearing age who do not already have children. The current income ceiling for Medicaid coverage is 157% of poverty; while the ceiling for pregnancy related care is 185% of poverty.
The objectives of the family planning waiver are to:
· Increase the availability and proper use of effective contraceptive methods,
· Increase the spacing between pregnancies,
· Decrease the number of unintended pregnancies,
· Decrease the number of Medicaid paid pregnancies and deliveries, and
· Improve reproductive health.
According to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, establishing parity between the Medicaid eligibility level for family planning and the level for pregnancy-related care that Connecticut currently receives would result in state savings of $15.5 million annually.[ii]
During the 2005 Connecticut legislative session, legislation was passed that required the Department of Social Services to apply for a family planning waiver. The Department of Social Services applied for the waiver in 2006, but has yet to submit the revisions that were asked of them. With a new federal administration, this is an ideal time for Connecticut to apply for the family planning waiver (section 1115).
Currently, 27 states have Medicaid Family Planning Waivers to expand coverage for family planning services to individuals who are otherwise ineligible for Medicaid and unable to access reproductive health care. Please allow Connecticut to join these states by funding the family planning waiver, a prevention program that will benefit Connecticut’s citizens while saving the state dollars.
Education Committee, HB 6494, An Act Concerning Teen Dating Violence Education
Written Testimony of Jillian Gilchrest, Executive Director, February 23, 2009
NARAL Pro-Choice Connecticut is a statewide political advocacy not-for-profit that works to guarantee every woman the right to make personal decisions regarding the full range of reproductive choices, including prevention unintended pregnancy, bearing healthy children, and choosing legal abortion.
I am writing in support of HB 6494, An Act Concerning Teen Dating Violence Education and to ask you to consider broadening this bill to include comprehensive, medically accurate and age appropriate sex education. Connecticut students need a well rounded health curriculum that starts in Kindergarten and lasts through their senior year in high school which includes all health related topics including teen dating violence, healthy relationships and sex education.
While I certainly believe that preventing teen dating violence is an extremely important public health issue, it should not be addressed in a vacuum but rather should be part of a broad curriculum that addresses healthy relationships and decision making.
I hope you will take my suggestions into account when you vote on this very important piece of legislation.
Thank you.
Human Services Committee, SB 927, An Act Concerning the Quality of Services for Recipients of Services Under a Medicaid Waiver
Testimony of Jillian Gilchrest, Executive Director, February 24, 2009
Good afternoon Senator Doyle, Representative Walker and members of the Human Services Committee. My name is Jillian Gilchrest and I am the executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Connecticut and Vice Chair to the Connecticut Coalition for Choice. NARAL Pro-Choice Connecticut is a statewide political advocacy non-profit that works to guarantee every woman the right to make personal decisions regarding the full range of reproductive choices and the Connecticut Coalition for Choice is comprised of 15 organizations that collectively represent over 130,000 individuals statewide.
I am here in support of SB 927, An Act Concerning the Quality of Services for Recipients of Services Under a Medicaid Waiver. Currently, the state of Connecticut has the opportunity to receive a 90% federal Medicaid match—when the state’s normal federal match is 50%--by applying for a Section 1115 waiver otherwise known as the family planning waiver.
The family planning waiver provides Medicaid coverage for family planning services to individuals in households with income up to 185% of the Federal Poverty Level who are not otherwise eligible for Medicaid-- individuals of child bearing age who do not already have children. The current income ceiling for Medicaid coverage is 157% of poverty; while the ceiling for pregnancy related care is 185% of poverty.
I understand there were discussions earlier with the Department of Social Services regarding the population this waiver will serve. Although I have not seen their analysis and although there might be some overlap in population, according to the Guttmacher Institute it is estimated that by implementing the family planning waiver the state of Connecticut will see an expansion of 39,900 participants.
I believe that many women of child bearing age, who actually rank amongst the highest number of uninsured, would benefit from a family planning waiver because they might not be willing or able to pay the monthly premiums that come along with the Charter Oak Health Plan and many women of child bearing age use their annual visit to the family planning facility as their basic health care for the year.
According to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, establishing parity between the Medicaid eligibility level for family planning and the level for pregnancy-related care that Connecticut currently receives would result in state savings of $15.5 million annually.[ii]
SB 927 requires that the Commissioner of Social Services apply for a Medicaid family planning waiver no later than September 1, 2009. Currently, 27 states have Medicaid Family Planning Waivers. Please allow Connecticut to join these states by supporting this legislation and preventative services that will benefit Connecticut’s citizens while saving the state dollars.
Appropriations Committee, Department of Social Services Budget
Testimony of Jillian Gilchrest, Executive Director, February 18, 2009
Good evening Senator Harp, Representative Geragosian and members of the Appropriations Committee. My name is Jillian Gilchrest and I am the executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Connecticut and Vice Chair to the Connecticut Coalition for Choice. NARAL Pro-Choice Connecticut is a statewide political advocacy non-profit that works to guarantee every woman the right to make personal decisions regarding the full range of reproductive choices and the Connecticut Coalition for Choice is comprised of 15 organizations that collectively represent over 130,000 individuals statewide.
I am here tonight to express two concerns with the Governor’s proposed cuts to the Department of Social Services budget—the elimination of prenatal services for women who don’t qualify for Medicaid and the elimination of Teen Pregnancy Prevention Block Grants. Understanding full well that our state is in the midst of extremely difficult economic times, I am merely cautioning you on the future financial impacts of the Governor’s proposed budget on our state and its citizens.
The Governor has proposed to eliminate funding for prenatal services for women who don’t qualify for Medicaid-- undocumented women. There is certainly disagreement over whether public dollars should be used to provide medical services to undocumented immigrants, but the bottom line is that undocumented immigrants seek medical care, and it is a lot more cost effective to provide prenatal services than it is to provide neonatal services and long term care.
When women don’t receive prenatal care they are at greater risk for low birth weight and pre-term births. They also face longer hospital stays, increased costs of neonatal care, and increased costs for long term care. According to a study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, for every dollar cut from public funding of prenatal care for undocumented women, there is an increase of $4.63 in long term care[1]. So if the state of Connecticut agrees to the Governor’s proposed elimination of prenatal services, we are looking at a short term gain of $2 million with a long term cost of over $9 million.
The Governor has also proposed to eliminate funding of the state’s Teen Pregnancy Prevention Block Grants which currently fund only a handful of programs statewide. Just last June, a department spokesman for DSS was quoted in the Norwich Bulletin as saying, “The state recognizes the need to enhance teen pregnancy prevention efforts”. What a difference a year makes—and yet teen pregnancy rates are once again on the rise and the media is laced with images of teen moms.
Unfortunately, the Governor’s proposal is once again short-sighted. Eliminating funding of the state’s Teen Pregnancy Prevention Block Grants will cost the state more in the long term.
I thank you for your time today and for the work you have ahead of you. Thank you.
Human Services Committee, HB 6402, An Act Concerning Maximization of Medicaid Reimbursement for the State of Connecticut and Federal Medical Assistance Percentages
Testimony of Jillian Gilchrest, Executive Director, February 17, 2009
Good afternoon Senator Doyle, Representative Walker and members of the Human Services Committee. My name is Jillian Gilchrest and I am the executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Connecticut, a statewide non-profit whose mission is to develop and sustain a constituency that uses the political process to guarantee every woman the right to make personal decisions regarding the full range of reproductive choices, including preventing unintended pregnancy, bearing healthy children, and choosing legal abortion.
I am here in support of HB 6402, An Act Concerning Maximization of Medicaid Reimbursements for the State of Connecticut and Federal Medical Assistance Percentages. Currently, the state of Connecticut has the opportunity to receive a 90% federal Medicaid match—when the state’s normal federal match is 50%--by applying for a Section 1115 waiver otherwise known as the family planning waiver.
The family planning waiver provides Medicaid coverage for family planning services to individuals in households with income up to 185% of the Federal Poverty Level who are not otherwise eligible for Medicaid-- individuals of child bearing age who do not already have children. The current income ceiling for Medicaid coverage is 157% of poverty; while the ceiling for pregnancy related care is 185% of poverty.
The objectives of the family planning waiver are to:
· Increase the availability and proper use of effective contraceptive methods,
· Increase the spacing between pregnancies,
· Decrease the number of unintended pregnancies,
· Decrease the number of Medicaid paid pregnancies and deliveries, and
· Improve reproductive health.
According to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, establishing parity between the Medicaid eligibility level for family planning and the level for pregnancy-related care that Connecticut currently receives would result in state savings of $15.5 million annually.[1]
During the 2005 Connecticut legislative session, legislation was passed that required the Department of Social Services to apply for a family planning waiver. The Department of Social Services applied for the waiver in 2006, but has yet to submit the revisions that were asked of them. With a new federal administration, this is an ideal time for Connecticut to apply for the family planning waiver (section 1115).
Currently, 27 states have Medicaid Family Planning Waivers to expand coverage for family planning services to individuals who are otherwise ineligible for Medicaid and unable to access reproductive health care. Please allow Connecticut to join these states by funding the family planning waiver, a prevention program that will benefit Connecticut’s citizens while saving the state dollars.
Education Committee, HB 6494, An Act Concerning Teen Dating Violence Education
Written Testimony of Jillian Gilchrest, Executive Director, February 23, 2009
NARAL Pro-Choice Connecticut is a statewide political advocacy not-for-profit that works to guarantee every woman the right to make personal decisions regarding the full range of reproductive choices, including prevention unintended pregnancy, bearing healthy children, and choosing legal abortion.
I am writing in support of HB 6494, An Act Concerning Teen Dating Violence Education and to ask you to consider broadening this bill to include comprehensive, medically accurate and age appropriate sex education. Connecticut students need a well rounded health curriculum that starts in Kindergarten and lasts through their senior year in high school which includes all health related topics including teen dating violence, healthy relationships and sex education.
While I certainly believe that preventing teen dating violence is an extremely important public health issue, it should not be addressed in a vacuum but rather should be part of a broad curriculum that addresses healthy relationships and decision making.
I hope you will take my suggestions into account when you vote on this very important piece of legislation.
Thank you.
Human Services Committee, SB 927, An Act Concerning the Quality of Services for Recipients of Services Under a Medicaid Waiver
Testimony of Jillian Gilchrest, Executive Director, February 24, 2009
Good afternoon Senator Doyle, Representative Walker and members of the Human Services Committee. My name is Jillian Gilchrest and I am the executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Connecticut and Vice Chair to the Connecticut Coalition for Choice. NARAL Pro-Choice Connecticut is a statewide political advocacy non-profit that works to guarantee every woman the right to make personal decisions regarding the full range of reproductive choices and the Connecticut Coalition for Choice is comprised of 15 organizations that collectively represent over 130,000 individuals statewide.
I am here in support of SB 927, An Act Concerning the Quality of Services for Recipients of Services Under a Medicaid Waiver. Currently, the state of Connecticut has the opportunity to receive a 90% federal Medicaid match—when the state’s normal federal match is 50%--by applying for a Section 1115 waiver otherwise known as the family planning waiver.
The family planning waiver provides Medicaid coverage for family planning services to individuals in households with income up to 185% of the Federal Poverty Level who are not otherwise eligible for Medicaid-- individuals of child bearing age who do not already have children. The current income ceiling for Medicaid coverage is 157% of poverty; while the ceiling for pregnancy related care is 185% of poverty.
I understand there were discussions earlier with the Department of Social Services regarding the population this waiver will serve. Although I have not seen their analysis and although there might be some overlap in population, according to the Guttmacher Institute it is estimated that by implementing the family planning waiver the state of Connecticut will see an expansion of 39,900 participants.
I believe that many women of child bearing age, who actually rank amongst the highest number of uninsured, would benefit from a family planning waiver because they might not be willing or able to pay the monthly premiums that come along with the Charter Oak Health Plan and many women of child bearing age use their annual visit to the family planning facility as their basic health care for the year.
According to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, establishing parity between the Medicaid eligibility level for family planning and the level for pregnancy-related care that Connecticut currently receives would result in state savings of $15.5 million annually.[1]
SB 927 requires that the Commissioner of Social Services apply for a Medicaid family planning waiver no later than September 1, 2009. Currently, 27 states have Medicaid Family Planning Waivers. Please allow Connecticut to join these states by supporting this legislation and preventative services that will benefit Connecticut’s citizens while saving the state dollars.
HB 5635, An Act Concerning the Administration of Ultrasound Procedures Testimony of Jillian Gilchrest, Executive Director
NARAL Pro-Choice Connecticut
Good morning Senator Harris, Representative Ritter, and members of the Public Health Committee. My name is Jillian Gilchrest and I am the executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Connecticut, a statewide political advocacy non-profit whose mission is to guarantee every woman the right to make personal decisions regarding the full range of reproductive choices, including preventing unintended pregnancy, bearing healthy children, and choosing legal abortion.
I am here this morning in support of HB 5635, An Act Concerning the Administration of Ultrasound Procedures which would eliminate the administration of ultrasound procedures by nonmedical commercial operations. As both an advocate for women who choose to bear healthy children and an expectant mother, I am extremely concerned about the health and safety of women and unborn babies who receive keepsake ultrasound portraits and videos from commercial businesses.
A variety of respected medical and advocacy organizations also express concerns discouraging the nonmedical use of ultrasounds, including the Federal Food and Drug Administration, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the March of Dimes, and the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, citing the qualification of providers, inaccuracy of findings, and increased exposure to ultrasound technology amongst their tops reasons for opposition.
As a pregnant woman, you tend to receive quite a bit of attention and if you decide to shop at maternity stores or register for baby gifts, you receive free giveaways and magazines. In most, if not all of these free giveaways and magazines, 3D/4D ultrasound photos and videos are marketed to expectant moms. I have attached one of the ads from the magazine, Pregnancy & Newborn to this testimony for your review and have also brought the magazine in and would be more than willing to share that with the committee.
By simply googling the words 3D ultrasound and Connecticut, I found 3 commercial 3D/4D ultrasound locations in Connecticut, A Tiny Perspective, in Glastonbury, What’s Kickin, in Guilford, and A Stork’s Studio, in Orange. On the websites as with the ad I attached for you, there is little to no mention of potential health concerns, although you might notice a seal that says United Imaging Partners. I don’t know if all expectant mothers would notice this seal, but if they were concerned with the safety of this procedure, they would certainly have their worries resolved by this foe-seal of approval.
The United Imaging Partners “seal you can trust” prides itself on meeting strict guidelines, but when you click on the seal to find out more their reassurance is misleading and provides women with misinformation. In order for a facility to be certified to receive the United Imaging Partners seal, they must have the finest ultrasound equipment, but according to the FDA, it’s not the equipment that is a concern, it’s how practitioners operate the equipment that puts the unborn baby at risk.
If a woman decided to click on the frequently asked questions portion of a website, her fears would once again be falsely reassured by an answer to the question, “Is it safe? Are there any risks to me, or my baby?” that reads,
“Extensive studies over 30 years have found that ultrasound has not been shown to cause any harm to mother or baby. Routine scanning of all pregnancies is now normal throughout the United States.”
What this warning fails to mention is that leading medical organizations discourage non-medical use and that the reason studies haven’t been able to show definitive long-term effects of ultrasound is because it is ethically wrong to conduct testing on unborn babies. A few studies do suggest exposure to ultrasound during pregnancy may have an effect on human development, such as delayed speech in children.
I think most expectant mothers are well intentioned, abstaining from foods they have been instructed to avoid, drinking no more than the allotted amount of caffeine, following the many recommendations for a healthy pregnancy, and yet when it comes to ultrasounds, there is little to no mention of risk.
According to the FDA’s Office of Compliance, the “FDA regulates devices, but the qualifications and behavior of technicians and physicians would be regulated by the states.” I thank the committee for introducing HB 5635. We owe the women of Connecticut who choose to bear children the right to make informed and healthy decisions.
Thank you.
