The tweet definitely has a deceptive headline. You are 100% correct.
It could have been titled “Oklahoma GOP continue with efforts pass most restrictive abortion laws in the country”, but that clearly wouldn’t get the same reaction.
Oklahoma bans abortion in the event of rape or incest, and they seem to now be going after some forms of birth control. There is concern that the current proposed legislation could lead to a database of those who have had abortions, but that is far from a done deal. Oklahoma is attempting to add more felony charges for anyone who assists a person seeking an abortion.
The Oklahoma GOP is pursuing laws that are deeply unpopular with the broader electorate and even conservative states, such as Kansas and Ohio have shown a desire to reject outright abortion bans. So, I did post a deceptive and overstated headline, but I will stand by my point that the GOP’s pursuit of absolute, no-exception abortion bans is going to have a very significant impact on how their candidates perform in 2024.
For reasons described in my previous post, I still didn't buy what the article said. I went to the actual bill, which is the House version of a state bill which has come out of committee but has not yet been put to a vote.
The bill is 10 pages, with the first 4 covering definitions and general terms. The "New Law" part of the bill starts on page 5.
Without going into each item, these are the terms that appeared relevant:
1. Bans the "morning after" pill, whether prescribed or sold OTC.
2. Preserves the right to an abortion prior to viability of the fetus, where there in an ectopic pregnancy, threatens the life of the mother, is necessary to save the life of the baby, or to remove a miscarriage. The bill requires only reasonable efforts to save the life of such a fetus who is alive after separation, but not where those efforts would only delay imminent death, where the risks outweigh the benefits, or are not medically necessary.
3. Requires a form to be filed after each legal abortion summarizing the case, including the patient identifier, the date, gestational age of the fetus at the time, the diagnosis and procedure, and signature of the physician (all of which would normally be in the patient's chart). This is the part that the sponsor offered to modify to further exclude patient identity.
4. Says the state health department will create the form and the numbering convention for the patient identifier. Also specifies: "
Unless required by a court order, the Department shall not release personally identifiable patient or physician information obtained under this act."
5. "
Nothing in this act may be construed to prohibit the use, sale, prescription, or administration of a contraceptive measure, drug, chemical, or device" so long as it isn't intended to induce an abortion (morning after pill, etc.) after conception. Also, medical errors that cause harm to the fetus are not considered abortions.
6. Physicians who violate the law are subject to loss or suspension of their license under existing statute. Also stipulates that "
No civil penalty may be assessed against a pregnant woman" in these cases.
7. Three more sections address procedural requirements for cases brought under the proposed statute.
The bill does not allow for abortion on demand.