By Alice Carver ¦ Eflux Media ¦ 13 October 2008
A nonprofit global health human right organization sued the state of Oklahoma over a law that prohibits a woman from getting an abortion without getting an ultrasound and a description of her fetus.
The lawsuit, filed in Oklahoma County District Court, states that the requirement intrudes on privacy, endangers health and assaults dignity. The Center for Reproductive Rights describes the law as a danger to the health and dignity of the woman. The law suit was filed Thursday in Oklahoma County District Court. The lawsuit against the state was filed on behalf of Nova Health Systems doing business as Reproductive Services in Tulsa.
The law, set to go into effect Nov.1, prohibits a woman from getting an abortion before she undergoes an ultrasound and the doctors describe what her fetus looks like. According to the law, the ultrasounds must be available to the patient for viewing. Oklahoma would be the fourth state in the nation, after Albama, Louisiana and Missisippi which require an ultrasound to be performed before a woman can have an abortion.
Gov. Brad Henry said he vetoed the bill because it was also valid for the victims of rape or incest.
The state Senator, Todd Lamb, disagreed with arguments that it forces a woman to view the ultrasounds. He said that the mother is not compelled to see the ultrasound. The law says women may avert their eyes during the ultrasound. He added that the bill only gives more information to a mother.
On the other hand, supporters of the law hope that viewing the ultrasound picture of the fetus will make the woman change her mind. They say that Oklahoma is the only state to require that the ultrasound screen be turned toward the woman and that the doctor describe the image of the fetus.
Republican state Sen. Todd Lamb explained the reasons behind his decision to introduce the bill, “I introduced the bill because I wanted to encourage life in society. In Oklahoma, society is on the side of life.” The measure would save lives and tardive regrets about the decision.
The Center for Reproductive Rights says that the Government should not intervene in medical problems and should leave medical determinations to physicians and health decisions to individuals. The advocacy group accused the anti-choice activists of trying to manipulate a woman’s decision about her own life and health.
The Center for Reproductive Rights considers the bill a tool to intimidate women who already have made a hard decision. Critics say the bill is an attempt to restrict abortion by scaring and intimidating women.
Abortion rights activists say the legislation requiring that every Oklahoma woman seeking an abortion be offered a viewing of an ultrasound image of the fetus would be intrusive and unnecessary. Laws in Indiana, Oklahoma, Utah, and Wisconsin already require that doctors inform women that ultrasounds are available.
