Okla. Court's Rejection of Antiabortion Laws Should 'Be a Message to Lawmakers,' Editorial State

December 7, 2012 — The Oklahoma Supreme Court's recent rejection of two state antiabortion laws should "be a message to lawmakers to give up on this line of legislation," a Tulsa World editorial states. The editorial notes that the court made "unambiguous decisions" that were issued "without a single dissenting vote" (Tulsa World, 12/6).

The court's rulings upheld lower court decisions to strike down a medication abortion law (HB 1970) and an ultrasound law (HB 2780). The first law required physicians to follow FDA guidelines on medication abortion, rather than guidelines from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the National Abortion Federation that currently are used. The other law required doctors to perform an ultrasound and describe the fetus in detail before a woman may receive an abortion (Women's Health Policy Report, 12/5).

The editorial continues that the court's "decisions will have no ... effect on the fanatics who think interfering in women's health-care decision-making is their top calling."

It adds that Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt (R) is considering an appeal of the two decisions. According to the editorial, an appeal would mean "more taxpayer money likely will be wasted on this misguided effort to control doctor-patient interaction and the practice of medicine -- but only when women are concerned" (Tulsa World, 12/6).