Magna Carta News
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Kern Files Pro-Life Measures to Strengthen State Laws
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Jason Sutton, Media Specialist
House Media Division
Capitol: (405) 962-7623
Contact: State Rep. Sally Kern
Capitol: (405) 557-7348
Oklahoma City: (405) 942-3504
Kern Files Pro-Life Measures to Strengthen State Laws
OKLAHOMA CITY- (January 24, 2007) -Doctors who are not allowed to practice at a nearby hospital would be prevented from performing abortions if a bill by state Rep. Sally Kern clears the legislative process.
Kern also filed a measure that would strengthen last year's parental notification law.
"Like most Oklahomans, I believe life begins at conception and am deeply disturbed that there is more red tape required to pierce someone's ear than there is to end an unborn baby's life," said Kern, R-Oklahoma City. "My bills will ensure abortionists who are more interested in fast cash than patient care can't evade Oklahoma's informed-consent and patient-safety laws."
House Bill 1004 would require doctors who perform abortions to have clinical privileges to render patient care at a local hospital that offers obstetrics and gynecological services. The hospital must be within 30 miles of where the abortionist practices.
House Bill 2047 would build on the Parental Notification Act by requiring women who seek abortions to provide proof of age or emancipation, and parents who consent to a minor's abortion would have to provide a copy of their identification along with a signed, dated and notarized letter of consent.
The bill would also require doctors who perform emergency abortions on minors to notify the child's parents within 24 hours after the procedure, and keep the parent's notarized consent form and proof of identification in the child's medical file for at least seven years.
In 2005, the Legislature passed legislation that requires parental notification for minors seeking an abortion; a state version of the federal Unborn Victims of Violence Act, which criminalizes acts of violence that result in death or harm to an unborn child; and an informed consent law requiring doctors to fully inform women of the risks involved prior to performing an abortion.
Last year, the Legislature passed another law that requires an abortionist to obtain the written informed consent of one parent before performing an abortion on a minor; to give the mother the option to view her unborn baby by ultrasound prior to the abortion; and to inform the mother that her unborn baby, if 20 weeks or older, may feel pain during an abortion and that anesthesia can be administered to the baby to relieve that pain.
The measure also contained language that expanded the recognition of an unborn child as a separate victim if a crime is committed against the mother, and that allows funding to be directed to organizations that help pregnant women with pro-life counseling and support-services.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Jason Sutton, Media Specialist
House Media Division
Capitol: (405) 962-7623
Contact: State Rep. Sally Kern
Capitol: (405) 557-7348
Oklahoma City: (405) 942-3504
Kern Files Pro-Life Measures to Strengthen State Laws
OKLAHOMA CITY- (January 24, 2007) -Doctors who are not allowed to practice at a nearby hospital would be prevented from performing abortions if a bill by state Rep. Sally Kern clears the legislative process.
Kern also filed a measure that would strengthen last year's parental notification law.
"Like most Oklahomans, I believe life begins at conception and am deeply disturbed that there is more red tape required to pierce someone's ear than there is to end an unborn baby's life," said Kern, R-Oklahoma City. "My bills will ensure abortionists who are more interested in fast cash than patient care can't evade Oklahoma's informed-consent and patient-safety laws."
House Bill 1004 would require doctors who perform abortions to have clinical privileges to render patient care at a local hospital that offers obstetrics and gynecological services. The hospital must be within 30 miles of where the abortionist practices.
House Bill 2047 would build on the Parental Notification Act by requiring women who seek abortions to provide proof of age or emancipation, and parents who consent to a minor's abortion would have to provide a copy of their identification along with a signed, dated and notarized letter of consent.
The bill would also require doctors who perform emergency abortions on minors to notify the child's parents within 24 hours after the procedure, and keep the parent's notarized consent form and proof of identification in the child's medical file for at least seven years.
In 2005, the Legislature passed legislation that requires parental notification for minors seeking an abortion; a state version of the federal Unborn Victims of Violence Act, which criminalizes acts of violence that result in death or harm to an unborn child; and an informed consent law requiring doctors to fully inform women of the risks involved prior to performing an abortion.
Last year, the Legislature passed another law that requires an abortionist to obtain the written informed consent of one parent before performing an abortion on a minor; to give the mother the option to view her unborn baby by ultrasound prior to the abortion; and to inform the mother that her unborn baby, if 20 weeks or older, may feel pain during an abortion and that anesthesia can be administered to the baby to relieve that pain.
The measure also contained language that expanded the recognition of an unborn child as a separate victim if a crime is committed against the mother, and that allows funding to be directed to organizations that help pregnant women with pro-life counseling and support-services.
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