Posts tagged abortion
REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AND FREE SPEECH BALANCED IN TULSA
10.28.08
Press Release
October 27, 2008
REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AND FREE SPEECH BALANCED IN TULSA
A group with a history of blocking the entrance to an abortion and reproductive health clinic in Tulsa announced its plan to protest at the clinic again on October 18. The management of the clinic, Reproductive Services, voiced its concern to the Tulsa Police Department that the protesters would block its entrance by parading on the sidewalk across the facility’s driveway. The Tulsa police, citing potential liability for restricting freedom of speech and assembly, expressed reluctance to limit the movement of the protesters across the driveway.
The director of the clinic contacted Rex Friend, a cooperating attorney for the ACLU of Oklahoma. Friend, a lawyer well-versed and experienced in protecting the rights of protesters, received guidance from the state ACLU office and the ACLU National Reproductive Freedom Project. He then provided case law to the clinic, and the material was provided to the Tulsa police.
As a result of clarifying the rights of the protesters balanced with the rights of clients to access the clinic, the demonstration occurred as planned with one exception. The protesters did not attempt to block the clinic’s driveway and the police were present to insure that the More >
Department of Health and Human Services Regulations Open for Public Comment
9.12.08
RFP and WLO have drafted model comments for affiliates to submit to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on the “Provider Conscience Regulation.” Submitting comments from each ACLU affiliate is part of the overall strategy to get a large volume of comments by the due date of September 25, 2008.
Background: On August 21, 2008, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released proposed regulations that could seriously undermine access to basic reproductive health services, including birth control and abortion. The rule leaves open the possibility that – based on religious beliefs – health care providers, including hospitals, insurance companies, and pharmacies, could deny women access to birth control. This could undermine the state reproductive health laws that so many affiliates have supported over the years. In addition, the rule may permit health care providers to withhold information and counseling about a wide range of health care services, including birth control and abortion, without any consideration for the needs of patients. The proposed rule can be read here.
The Strategy: By submitting a massive number of comments, we will demonstrate to the public, HHS, and any future administration the diverse and strong opposition to the promulgation of this dangerous More >
GOVERNOR HENRY’S VETO OF ABORTION BILL IS VICTIM OF LEGISLATIVE OVERRIDE
6.26.08
Governor Brad Henry issued a veto of Senate Bill 1878, an Omnibus Anti-Abortion Bill on the evening of Wednesday April 16, 2008. The Oklahoma State Senate voted 37-11 to override the veto on Thursday, April 17, 2008. Less than an hour later, the Oklahoma House of Representatives voted 81-15 to override.
Among the worst of the provisions of the new law are the following:
It requires doctors to perform vaginal ultrasounds prior to every abortion procedure. Patients have no choice in the matter. Oklahoma is currently state with such a law.
A woman’s right to receive urgent medical treatment would be impeded at a hospital if an employee refused to treat her based on moral or religious grounds.
A woman’s right to receive an non-surgical abortion using medication can be restricted by limiting a doctor’s ability to administer the drug and hampering the physician’s discretion to determine appropriate medical care. This non-surgical method of terminating early pregnancy has been proven to be both safe and effective.
The ACLU of Oklahoma was successful at urging many people contact Governor Henry to urge his veto of Senate Bill 1878. In addition, the ACLU sent hundreds of letters to constituents in targeted legislative districts asking constituents to contact More >
An open letter from ACLU of Oklahoma Program Director and Legislative Counsel Tamya Cox
3.27.09
Posted by ACLU OK in Commentary
I attended the committee meeting on HB 1595, the Statistical Reporting on Abortion bill. This bill would require doctors to ask a series of invasive questions that would then be uploaded to the Internet. This bill also prevents gender-selection abortion. This is not an issue in the United States and 90 percent of abortions that do occur happen within 12 weeks of pregnancy. Fourteen to sixteen weeks into the pregnancy is typically the amount of time before gender is decided. Only four percent of Oklahoma abortions occur at or after week 16. However, the data does not show if these abortions are due to women’s health risks or fetus anomaly.
But while the abortion issue is an important topic, I am concerned that the legislature continually politicizes the topic and doesn’t get to the real issue. All sides want to reduce the number of abortions; all sides want to reduce the number of unintended pregnancies. But the politics of the “choice vs. anti-choice” issue overshadows this. It is time both sides come together, divorce the emotion, and have meaningful dialogue.
We first need to decide how to reduce the number of unintended pregnancies. I believe it is through a comprehensive sex education. More >