Abortion Bill a Hot-Button Issue in Oklahoma

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, April 19 - Abortion is possibly one of the most collectively sensitive topics tackled today in American politics. Some states have already adopted legislation to restrict abortion rights for women and Oklahoma is one of them. Like gay marriage, the hot button issue of abortion is largely fought by two sides: One side opposes abortion because of its spiritual implications while the other supports the freedom for a woman to make her own decisions concerning her body.

SB 1878 proposes that an ultrasound must be performed, by law, before any operation is even in the paperwork. The woman could then choose to watch or look away while the doctor says: "No one can force you to have an abortion." He has to say this, by law, and so does a sign with bold font outside his/her practice door.

The bill, under review by Governor Brad Henry will give health care workers the right to refuse to assist in an abortion if it conflicts with their moral or religious beliefs. Also, this bill does not offer any indication that pregnancies caused by rape or incest should be given special consideration.

The bill aims to curb or alleviate a woman's ability to have an abortion, which has been criticized heavily by a number of groups including the National Partnership for Women & Families. It's unclear whether or not this will have a positive effect on Oklahoma. That is a matter up for open debate. But here in Oklahoma, where Christianity has a cultivated following, it's likely that hot-button issues such as abortion and gay marriage will be addressed religiously and not politically.

Senator Todd Lamb, (Rep.) of my hometown of Edmond supports the bill:

"I am encouraged by the bipartisan support to protect innocent life today in the senate." Lamb says on Oklahoma's government website. "The provisions spelled out in this legislation are critical pro-life advances..."

Others aren't so quick to agree, like Sen. Jeff Rabon (D), who told the Advisory Board Company that the measure "would dehumanize and humiliate women." Several blogs, including Blue Oklahoma, agrees insisting that the bill "shatters the boundary between the conscience of the health care provider and the conscience of the patient..." by providing legal clemency to doctors who fail to perform an abortion correctly. At the same time the bill interferes with a doctor's practice by implementing provisions that restrict the type of medicine he or she can use on a patient. In this way, the bill seems to work in favor of Christian doctors and against those who may disagree.

It's uncertain how the bill will turn out over the next couple of days, but if Governor Henry decides to veto the bill, Oklahoma lawmakers will likely try again at another session or possibly override Gov. Henry's veto altogether.