Oklahoma Is OK for Dan Patrick
Oklahoma now requires ultrasounds for pregnant women seeking abortion. Is Texas next?
By Jordan Smith, Fri., May 23, 2008
But lawmakers in Oklahoma have not only taken up the same issue, they have now passed the nation's most restrictive ultrasound law. The measure requires vaginal or abdominal ultrasound – whichever yields a better image of the fetus (most often, a vaginal image) – prior to every abortion procedure; there is no way for a woman to opt out of the procedure. In other words, the state is mandating that a woman undergo an invasive medical procedure – insertion of ultrasound equipment – without any medical necessity for it. Moreover, the law lacks any exception for women who are victims of rape or incest (although those altruistic lawmakers did include a provision that would allow a woman – without penalty – to avert her eyes and refuse to look at the image).
Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry vetoed the legislation on April 16, but lawmakers rallied, overriding the veto the next day. Anti-abortion groups were, predictably, thrilled, issuing press releases that rehash the same tired lines about women having all the facts before choosing abortion, as if they had any moral authority to claim that women don't already do that.
Be prepared: The 2009 legislative session is right around the corner, and with the recent Oklahoma "victory," you can bet that the posse of legislators who like to spend their days at the Capitol looking up women's skirts will be eager to follow suit. Don't say you weren't warned.
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