All Oklahomans concerned with quality reproductive health care for women should be gravely disappointed in the legislators who chose to override Governor Henry’s veto of SB 1878.

This bill requires a medically unnecessary, invasive procedure one hour before an abortion procedure.  It interferes with a physician’s ability to exercise his or her best medical judgment and with a patient’s right to make medical decisions based on her doctor’s advice and what is best for her.  Legislators have no business dictating medical procedures.

Planned Parenthood is appalled at the language that will allow medical professionals to intentionally withhold information or mislead families about the results of certain tests if doing so might keep the family from considering terminating a pregnancy.  Informed consent depends on patients receiving complete, medically accurate, truthful information.  The critical trust between medical professionals and their patients should never be broken—but this law will do just that.

SB 1878 will not prevent unintended pregnancies or reduce the need for abortions in the state of Oklahoma, and our lawmakers know that.  If the legislators who failed to sustain Governor’s Henry’s courageous veto of this bill were truly concerned about women’s health, they would link arms with Planned Parenthood to expand access to the preventative and reproductive health care services that women need to plan healthy families.

Check out these blogs:

www.prochoiceoklahoma.blogspot.com!

www.okvoiceofreason.blogspot.com!

www.getrealoklahoma.blogspot.com!