Implementation Of Oklahoma Ultrasound Law Blocked Until March

Main Category: Abortion
Also Included In: MRI / PET / Ultrasound
Article Date: 12 Nov 2008 - 6:00 PST

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An Oklahoma law (SB 1878) that would make ultrasounds mandatory for women seeking abortions was blocked by court order on Oct. 29, just days before its scheduled Nov. 1 implementation, an attorney for the group that requested the court order said on Friday, the AP/NewsOK.com reports. According to the AP/NewsOK.com, the temporary restraining order blocking the law, which was granted by Oklahoma County District Judge Vicki Robertson, remains in effect until March 27, unless Robertson rules sooner on a request to issue a preliminary injunction.

The AP/NewsOK.com reports that the court order was requested by attorneys filing a lawsuit on behalf of Tulsa's Reproductive Services -- the city's main abortion clinic -- that claimed the law "intrudes on privacy, endangers health and assaults dignity." Stephanie Toti, a staff attorney for the Center for Reproductive Rights, said that if the law had taken effect Nov. 1, the clinic would have had to reduce the number of abortions it provides because it does not have the personnel needed to implement requirements of the measure. Toti said, "What would happen immediately is that they would have had to stop providing certain services, and, within a short amount of time, they would have been put out of business." She said the clinic performs about 200 abortions a month (Green, AP/NewsOK.com, 11/7).

Linda Meek, executive administrator of Reproductive Services in Tulsa, said the law is vague and creates confusion about its implementation (Hoberock, Tulsa World, 11/8).

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