government
Judge blocks Oklahoma abortion law
Posted Oct. 31, 2011
An Oklahoma judge on Oct. 19 temporarily barred a state law that restricts how doctors can treat women using abortion-inducing drugs.
The Oklahoma law, passed earlier this year, was scheduled to take effect on Nov. 1. The measure mandates that doctors abide by strict protocols regarding drugs for women seeking abortions. Doctors also must examine women and document certain medical conditions.
The Center for Reproductive Rights sued the state on Oct. 5 on behalf of the Oklahoma Coalition for Reproductive Justice, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring the availability of reproductive health care services to women throughout the state.
The law jeopardizes women's health and undermines their ability to exercise the full range of their constitutionally protected reproductive rights, according to a statement by the center, a national advocacy organization that provides legal assistance to organizations fighting anti-abortion measures.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2011/10/31/gvbf1031.htm.
