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Oklahoma Bans State Funds for Abortion in State Hospitals, With Exceptions

By Peter J. Smith

OKLAHOMA CITY, May 25, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) — State-funded medical facilities in Oklahoma may no longer perform most abortions under a new bill that became law on Wednesday.

"Virtually every hospital in the state of Oklahoma will no longer be allowed to do [abortions],” Linda Gray Murphy, a lobbyist with the National Association of Social Workers told Reuters. “If you live in rural Oklahoma, your hospital probably receives state funding."

SB 139 was passed by both the Oklahoma House and Senate and became law after Gov. Brad Henry took no action on the bill for five days. The bill now prohibits state funded medical facilities or state employees to perform abortions unless the life of the mother is threatened, she risks impairment to major bodily functions, or in the cases of rape or incest if the crime is first reported to police.

The bill does not affect privately owned hospitals or medical institutions, but only those which receive state funds.

Gov. Henry had vetoed the previous bill passed by the Legislature for making no exceptions for rape, incest, or birth defects lethal to the baby. That bill would have passed with a veto-proof majority were it not for the late minute defection of Sen. Charles Laster (D-Shawnee).

Gov. Henry agreed to let the bill become law without his signature, but said he wanted to address allowing abortion for lethal births in the next legislative session.

Joseph Scheidler, national director for the Pro-life Action League, however took issue with the bill’s health exceptions for abortion.

“Abortion is not a life-saving surgery,” Scheidler said according to CNHI News Service, adding that modern medicine is so sophisticated now that very few women die because of a pregnancy. Scheidler also added it was dangerous for people to look at babies with fatal fetal abnormalities and say “let’s kill this baby because it’s going to die.” Scheidler pointed out everyone dies eventually and doctors do make mistakes in diagnoses.

See related coverage by LifeSiteNews.com:

Gallup Poll Shows Americans Evenly Divided Between "Pro-life" and "Pro-choice", but Favor Restrictions
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/may/07052405.html

Oklahoma Governor Vetoes Bill Restricting State Funds for Abortion
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/apr/07042504.html

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