Oklahoma Abortion Law Would Force Women To Hear Detailed Descriptions Of The Fetus

Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry (pictured) calls them unconstitutional intrusions into women’s lives. He vetoed two measures that the Oklahoma House has now overridden, and the Senate is expected to do as the House did.

One of the measures requires women to undergo an ultrasound and listen to a detailed description of the fetus before getting an abortion. The other prohibits pregnant women from seeking damages if physicians withhold information or provide inaccurate information about their pregnancy.

Supporters said the second measure was aimed at preventing women from discriminating against fetuses with disabilities. The votes were 81-14 and 84-12.

Henry, who vetoed the measures Friday, has called the ultrasound legislation flawed because it does not allow exemptions for victims of rape and incest. The Center for Reproductive Rights, a national abortion rights group, calls it among the strictest anti-abortion measures in the nation.

But the governor hasn’t been totally in the pro-choice camp.

This month alone, Henry has signed laws requiring clinics to post signs stating a woman cannot be forced to have an abortion, saying an abortion will not be performed until the woman gives her voluntary consent and making abortions based on child’s gender illegal.

Oklahoma is competing with Nebraska for claiming the nation’s strictest abortion laws.

Nebraska also put new restrictions on abortion this month, enacting a law that bars the procedure at and after 20 weeks of pregnancy based on the assertion fetuses can feel pain at that point. The other requires women be screened before having abortions for mental health issues and other risk factors indicating if they might have problems afterward.

Can you imagine a law where men were forced to listen to a lecture before having an operation? Can you imagine a law where a man had to pass a mental health test before making a decision?

By: Alan

Alan Colmes is the publisher of Liberaland.