Oklahoma Supreme Court Puts New Abortion Law On Hold

[JonLP24]

Source: Huffington Post

OKLAHOMA CITY, Nov 4 (Reuters) - The Oklahoma Supreme Court on Tuesday halted the implementation of new abortion restrictions in the state that supporters said are aimed at protecting women's health and critics said are really measures designed to shutter clinics.

Oklahoma is one of several Republican-stronghold states in hat have adopted similar restrictions on abortion clinics in about the last year, prompting legal battles at the state and federal court level.

The Oklahoma court said it will delay the implementation of the measures that began this month "until the constitutionality of the Act is fully and finally litigated."

One of the regulations approved in Oklahoma, as well as in other states, requires physicians who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at an adequately equipped hospital within 30 miles of where the abortion is performed.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/04/oklahoma-abortion_n_6100590.html

[uppityperson]

1. k&r

[sakabatou]

2. I'm glad they're at least on hold

Now I hope they don't clear the courts.

[Judi Lynn]

3. AP: Anti-abortion laws blocked by Oklahoma's top court

Nov 4, 4:51 PM EST

Anti-abortion laws blocked by Oklahoma's top court

By JUSTIN JUOZAPAVICIUS
Associated Press

TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- The Oklahoma Supreme Court blocked two new laws aimed at limiting access to abortions on Tuesday, putting both on hold until lawsuits challenging their constitutionality have been settled.

Both laws, approved by the Legislature earlier this year, had taken effect Saturday. One required abortion providers to have a physician with admitting privileges at a nearby hospital present when abortions are performed. The other prohibited off-label uses of abortion-inducing drugs by requiring doctors to administer them only in accordance with U.S. Food and Drug Administration protocols.

Abortion-rights supporters welcomed the delay Tuesday.

"Today the Oklahoma Supreme Court handed the women of Oklahoma a crucial victory by protecting their constitutional rights and restoring critical options for those seeking safe and legal abortion services," said Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights, which is supporting efforts to fight the laws.

More:
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_ABORTION_RESTRICTIONS_OKLAHOMA?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2014-11-04-16-51-04