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New Oklahoma abortion laws seek understanding
October 27, 2009 by Cathy Ribble
Filed under News
Garlin Newton carrying a cross in front of the Oklahoma Capitol, in observance of Rose Day, an anti-abortion event
Proponents of two new abortion laws in Oklahoma say they want to understand why women seek an abortion, and they want to provide women with as much information as possible before making a decision which is irrevocable.
“Do they feel they have no other choice? Is it financial? What are the reasons that lead up to that very desperate choice of a woman?” said Republican state Rep. Pam Peterson. Rep. Peterson was involved in drafting both laws.
One law would require women to complete a survey about their race, education and reason for seeking an abortion. The survey also asks whether the woman is having relationship problems, whether she can’t afford to raise a child, or whether a baby would dramatically change her life. Each of these questions could explain key reasons why women feel compelled to follow through with an abortion. Issues are rarely resolved until some degree of understanding occurs.
Republican state Rep. Dan Sullivan helped draft the questionnaire bill. He stated that lawmakers are simply looking for information that will help them find ways to reduce the number of abortions in Oklahoma.
“These are tragic situations for people, and we’re not trying to compound anyone’s emotional state,” said Sullivan.
Another section of the laws requires that doctors provide detailed information about complications that arise as a result of the procedure. That information would eventually be compiled into a statistical report by the Oklahoma Health Department which would be posted on its web site.
This step appears to provide women considering abortion with medical information concerning possible complications of an abortion procedure.
While the legal challenges are just getting started, some believe that the debate could follow the path of the partial-birth abortion law. That issue was argued through the Nebraska court system, struck down by the United States Supreme Court , and then finally upheld in 2007 after Congress made it a federal law.
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