Judge bars restrictive Oklahoma abortion law requiring online posting of patient data

While Californians mull whether a fetus is a person, a state judge has temporarily blocked enforcement of a new Oklahoma law that would require doctors to report detailed information about abortion patients, which would then be posted online.

The law, passed by a solid majority of the Oklahoma Legislature, would require physicians to report such information as age, marital status, race, number of children, education level and the mother’s relationship to the father. It would also require the reason for the abortion, the cost and the type of payment used. Names of patients would not be included in information that would be posted online by the state’s health department, but abortion rights advocates say because Oklahoma is such a small state it would not be difficult to identify some patients. Abortion rights advocates say the law would violate the privacy of patients and is an attempt to dissuade women from seeking abortions.

Republican Oklahoma state Sen. Todd Lamb, who sponsored the legislation, told CNN today that because abortion was “very polarizing,” the law was necessary “to add hard-core evidence to this debate.” The law would also outlaw sex-selective abortions, though Oklahoma abortion foes did not cite any evidence of such behavior in the state.

Dionne Scott of the Center for Reproductive Rights, which is representing two women who are challenging the law, called it “a profound intrusion.” A hearing in the case is scheduled for Dec. 4.

Oklahoma has been at the forefront of states that have passed restrictive abortion measures. Last month, a judge struck down a 2008 law that imposed what abortion rights supporters say was “the most extreme” ultrasound law in the country. It would have required doctors to perform ultrasounds with screens positioned in mothers’ lines of sight and to describe the developing fetus. Rape victims were not exempt from the law, and if a pregnancy were in the early stages, a vaginal ultrasound would have to be performed to secure a clear image. Seventeen states have ultrasound laws, which require that a woman be offered the opportunity to see the image, but do not require she be positioned in front of the screen.

-- Robin Abcarian

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Comments

[dee]

It's not clear what the purpose is for posting this information. Is it for the public, statisticians, epidemiologist.....who?

[steve rodriguez]

Life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Mara]

dee, the ONLY purpose for posting this on-line is to shame and intimidate women who have had an abortion.

It's one thing if the point was to have a demographic breakdown for public safety or research purposes, but that could have been made available on request.

Mandating that this (very) personal information be posted on the world wide web for all to see reveals exactly what the purpose is...to infringe upon the privacy of women for the sole purpose of governmental intimidation.

[Robert]

It's obvious that Oklahoma is intent on ending abortions. I totally get it. I know that people are passionately against them, but you are restricting a womans right to choose. Are you kidding me with FORCING a woman to see the child on the monitor? Are you kidding me with posting PERSONAL information about a womans choice to have an abortion online? Oklahoma seems more intent on repressing the rights and privacy of women rather than ending abortions. You people make me sick.

[Jo]

Good for Oklahoma.

[Zaylyn]

To be fair, I propose:
Statistical Reporting of Abortions Act II, also known as: "What's Good for the Goose is Good for the Gander," to require the following information to be collected about the FATHER of the unborn child and posted on a public website:

1. Date of abortion.
2. County in which abortion performed.
3. Age of father and difference from age of mother.
4. Marital status of father (married, divorced, separated, widowed, or never married). If married, is he married to the mother of the child or to another woman?
5. Race of father. Same or different than mother?
6. Occupation of father (specify employer and yearly income). If an elected official, list position and voter precinct.
7. Residence of father (country, state, county). Same or different household than mother?
8. Total number of previous pregnancies fathered and the number of different women involved.

In addition, in an effort to influence the mother's decision about the abortion, all fathers will be required to offer to contribute $10,000/year for 18 years toward the cost of raising the child.

I am sure that this information would be much more useful in devising policies to reduce abortions than the proposed information to be collected from the mother!

[Cameron]

If the religious nuts get their way no one would have a private life.