An animated fetus that develops throughout a three-minute video may soon be a requirement for sex-ed classes in public schools.
According to The Associated Press, bills in Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, and West Virginia legislatures intend to mirror a North Dakota Law passed last year.
The video, titled 'Baby Olivia,' is the product of an anti-abortion group named Live Action. The members and supporters of the new legislation believe it would teach kids where they come from and encourage an appreciation for human life.
Live Action states on its website that "it exists today to shift public opinion" on abortion and is dedicated to supporting a "culture of life."
Some educators and physicians find the video deceptive and problematic for a young audience.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, a professional organization with over 60,000 members, said in an email to the AP that the video is anti-abortion misinformation "designed to manipulate the emotions of viewers."
A new front in state-level abortion politics, founder Lila Rose said the video is designed to be informative, lifelike, and appropriate for anyone and was developed in partnership with doctors. Two trained OB-GYNS and four trained in anatomy, biochemistry, pediatric medicine, and neuroscience contributed to the project.
Why has Baby Olivia sparked debate?
In the animated video meant to visualize development in the womb, Baby Olivia is introduced by a voiceover as an illustration of a fully developed baby in utero. Olivia's mouth and eyes open and close, and her hands move.
"Though she has yet to greet the outside world, she has already completed an amazing journey," the narrator says.
The portrayal depicts an egg being fertilized and implanted, then walking through embryonic and fetal developments throughout a pregnancy.
The organization spent nearly $5 million in 2022 to create and distribute the content widely, revealed AP. Filing reports show Live Action more than quadrupled its cash from contributions and grants in just four years, totaling $14 million in 2022.
Live Action is also known for its efforts to expose Planned Parenthood. By posing as patients, videos and reports were published by members posing as patients. As a result, a federal jury awarded Planned Parenthood $2 million in damages in 2019.
What The Critics Are Saying:
Iowa physicians and educators indicate references to a fetal "heartbeat" are widely disputed. At six weeks, the embryo is not yet a fetus and does not have a heart.
The video also animates the fetus with motion, using words like "playing," "exploring," "sighing," and making "speaking movements."
Those words assign human traits and properties to a fetus that are more sophisticated than medicine can prove, said Emily Boevers, a practicing OB-GYN in Iowa and co-founder of Iowans for Health Liberty, which advocates for reproductive health care.
There are signals that the brain is developing and functioning, Boevers said. But the video's language implies "a level of intention that we just can't say is present."
What's The Lesson Plan?
Iowa Rep. Luana Stoltenberg, a Republican, said she was impressed by the video's portrayal of science, and she believes showing fetal development could help curious kids understand where they came from.
"What's the worst that can happen?" Stoltenberg said. "Maybe a young child learns how they are developed and grow and, so if they become pregnant, they decide maybe I don't want an abortion? Is that a horrible thing?"
Several states have implemented stricter regulations on what is taught about sex education and when. State and federal agencies view its purpose as a means to prevent teen pregnancies and reduce the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.
Teaching kids about pregnancy and conception should be part of an all-encompassing and medically accurate curriculum, said Katie Christensen, North Dakota's Planned Parenthood director, who has a graduate degree in human development and family science.
"When we're looking at promoting healthy well-being, especially in our adolescents, never once have I seen it said ... 'These kids really need to see an ultrasound video,'" Christensen said.
North Dakota passed legislation that now requires health and human sexuality courses to include a three-minute ultrasound video and a computer-generated rendering of development in the womb. While the law doesn't mandate Baby Olivia, it is an option by the state's Department of Public Instruction.
