SB 1878 may go to a vote this week. This bill includes:
An ultrasound provision requiring a woman to endure an invasive medical procedure and listen to a description provided by the doctor with the ultrasound screen facing the patient. "They don't have to look", is the statement from authors Rep. Peterson and Rep. Billy;
Under the so-called "wrongful life" provision, a medical professional who intentionally fails to perform available tests, even when requested, or who intentionally fails to accurately report to the parents of a fetus the results of such a test, would be totally immune from legal consequences;
The so-called "Freedom of Conscience" provisions shatters the boundary between the conscience of the healthcare provider and the conscience of the patient;
The requirement of posting signs in abortion clinics stating that a patient may not be coerced into having the procedure is yet another scare tactic by legislators to bully women; and
The language regarding Mifepristone, aka RU-486 which was approved by the FDA nearly six years ago, is legislating how physicians practice medicine. Doctors, not politicans should decide what information and care is best for their patients.
Please contact your Representative today and ask them to vote no on SB 1878!
Click here to find out who your legislator is for your district.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
SB 1878: Ominbus Abortion Bill
SB 1878 to be heard in Judiciary Committee today...
SB 1878 is one complicated bill. This is also called the Freedom of Conscience and has been introduced in several other states around the country. Here is our best explanation:
SB 1878, authored by Senator Faught (R), would create the Freedom of Conscience Act, which gives employees of health care facilities the right to choose not to participate in an objectionable activity based on moral or religious grounds. It provides immunity to such employees for damage caused by their choosing not to participate. It also provides a course of action for employees when an employer violates the act. Initially, the bill did not include a provision for the life and health of the woman. An amendment was added that provides for the life of the woman, but not the health.
Our concern: This bill would put women’s lives and health in danger by creating limited access and hurdles for women in obtaining important medical care. While we understand person’s values in not wanting to participate in abortion services, we do not feel that hospitals should have the right to turn women away due to the moral objections of an employee.
Bill Status: SB 1878 has passed through the full Senate and is being heard in the House Judiciary and Public Safety Committee on 3/26/08. If it passes through the committee it will then head to the House floor for a vote before going back to the Senate.
SB 1878, authored by Senator Faught (R), would create the Freedom of Conscience Act, which gives employees of health care facilities the right to choose not to participate in an objectionable activity based on moral or religious grounds. It provides immunity to such employees for damage caused by their choosing not to participate. It also provides a course of action for employees when an employer violates the act. Initially, the bill did not include a provision for the life and health of the woman. An amendment was added that provides for the life of the woman, but not the health.
Our concern: This bill would put women’s lives and health in danger by creating limited access and hurdles for women in obtaining important medical care. While we understand person’s values in not wanting to participate in abortion services, we do not feel that hospitals should have the right to turn women away due to the moral objections of an employee.
Bill Status: SB 1878 has passed through the full Senate and is being heard in the House Judiciary and Public Safety Committee on 3/26/08. If it passes through the committee it will then head to the House floor for a vote before going back to the Senate.
Friday, March 14, 2008
1 in 4 teens have an STI...
Planned Parenthood was interviewed by the Oklahoman regarding the new CDC report which states 1 in 4 teens have a Sexually Transmitted Infection. Pay particular attention to the quotes from the "abstinence-based" Oklahoma Family Policy Council opinion.
In the last decade, more than $1.5 billion has been wasted on dangerous abstinence-only programs that deny teenagers life-saving information. It’s time to put that money toward real solutions that will help prevent unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections among teenagers.
In the last decade, more than $1.5 billion has been wasted on dangerous abstinence-only programs that deny teenagers life-saving information. It’s time to put that money toward real solutions that will help prevent unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections among teenagers.
MOTION EXPIRED!
The motion to do a re-vote on HB 2628 has expired. Hopefully it will stay dormant forever!
Thanks to all who made an effort to stop this bill.
Thanks to all who made an effort to stop this bill.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
HB 2628 REVOTE TODAY!
As I stated earlier, the author of HB 2628 has promised a revote on this bill today. Please email you legislators today, this minute and ask them to vote no on HB 2628!
Update later...
Update later...
FINALLY...A VICTORY!
HB 2628 failed yesterday 51 to 50.
Check out this article from the Oklahoman.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL WHO HELPED FIGHT THIS TERRIBLE BILL!
Please note: Rep. Faught may bring this bill up again for a re-vote today. This is the last day to hear any bills in the House. Check back soon, we'll keep you updated.
Check out this article from the Oklahoman.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL WHO HELPED FIGHT THIS TERRIBLE BILL!
Please note: Rep. Faught may bring this bill up again for a re-vote today. This is the last day to hear any bills in the House. Check back soon, we'll keep you updated.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Kern Co-Author of Anti-Planned Parenthood Bill
Most of you know Representative Kern is anti-gay but did you know that she is also anti-choice and anti-Planned Parenthood? Kern co-authored HB 2628, the anti-Planned Parenthood bill.
HB 2628 states, “A school district shall not allow a nongovernmental entity, organization, or agency that…provides information about abortion services to be involved in the teaching of a sex education class…or to provide any curriculum, materials, tests, or surveys to the school or teacher for use in a sex education class or program.”
To support the bill, the authors claimed that Planned Parenthood promotes abortion in its public school education programs and uses its in-school sex education to influence impressionable teens to abort their babies. The authors also assured committee members that the bill was specifically written to ban Planned Parenthood and would not affect anti-choice crisis pregnancy centers from easy access to schools.
If this legislation passes, public school teachers will no longer be able to check out the terrific resources from our library, which include educational videos on assertive communication, anatomical models and contraceptive demonstration kits. PPCO will not be able to provide teachers and their students with an expert guest speaker on HIV, sexual responsibility, health relationships, or teen pregnancy prevention.
We have a preventable public health problem in this country — an estimated 750,000 American teens will become pregnant this year and millions more will contract a sexually transmitted infection.
Sometimes parents need help talking with their teens about sex. We need education programs in our schools that will keep teens healthy — by including information about abstinence as well as contraception, healthy communication, responsible decision making, and prevention of sexually transmitted infections.
As a health care provider, Planned Parenthood of Central Oklahoma knows firsthand the power of education to help teens make responsible decisions about their health. Every year we provide more than 8,000 women, men and teens in central Oklahoma with the health information and services they need to prevent unintended pregnancy and protect their health.
THIS BILL MUST BE STOPPED!
HB 2628 states, “A school district shall not allow a nongovernmental entity, organization, or agency that…provides information about abortion services to be involved in the teaching of a sex education class…or to provide any curriculum, materials, tests, or surveys to the school or teacher for use in a sex education class or program.”
To support the bill, the authors claimed that Planned Parenthood promotes abortion in its public school education programs and uses its in-school sex education to influence impressionable teens to abort their babies. The authors also assured committee members that the bill was specifically written to ban Planned Parenthood and would not affect anti-choice crisis pregnancy centers from easy access to schools.
If this legislation passes, public school teachers will no longer be able to check out the terrific resources from our library, which include educational videos on assertive communication, anatomical models and contraceptive demonstration kits. PPCO will not be able to provide teachers and their students with an expert guest speaker on HIV, sexual responsibility, health relationships, or teen pregnancy prevention.
We have a preventable public health problem in this country — an estimated 750,000 American teens will become pregnant this year and millions more will contract a sexually transmitted infection.
Sometimes parents need help talking with their teens about sex. We need education programs in our schools that will keep teens healthy — by including information about abstinence as well as contraception, healthy communication, responsible decision making, and prevention of sexually transmitted infections.
As a health care provider, Planned Parenthood of Central Oklahoma knows firsthand the power of education to help teens make responsible decisions about their health. Every year we provide more than 8,000 women, men and teens in central Oklahoma with the health information and services they need to prevent unintended pregnancy and protect their health.
THIS BILL MUST BE STOPPED!
Monday, March 10, 2008
Interesting Week in the House...
For those of you who haven't heard, the House has until Thursday evening to pass more than 200 bills or the bills will die an untimely death. We can only hope the following bills drop dead this week:
HB 2181 - Law stating that only state certified physicians can prescribe and administer Mifepristone (RU486);
HB 2628 - As introduced, HB 2628 states, “A school district shall not allow a nongovernmental entity, organization, or agency that…provides information about abortion services to be involved in the teaching of a sex education class…or to provide any curriculum, materials, tests, or surveys to the school or teacher for use in a sex education class or program.” HB 2628 not only makes it more difficult for public school students to have access to a variety of sources for sexual health education, it would prohibit Planned Parenthood in particular from being involved in any way.
HB 2771 - "Freedom of Conscience Act" relating to professionals abstaining from procedures they morally object;
HB 3059 - Requires signs be posted at all abortion provider facilities informing patients of their right to not be coerced into having an abortion;
HB 3144 - Increases regulation for women seeking an abortion, requiring an ultrasound one hour prior to the abortion procedure (with the screen facing the patient and an explanation of the view on the screen);
HB 2181 - Law stating that only state certified physicians can prescribe and administer Mifepristone (RU486);
HB 2628 - As introduced, HB 2628 states, “A school district shall not allow a nongovernmental entity, organization, or agency that…provides information about abortion services to be involved in the teaching of a sex education class…or to provide any curriculum, materials, tests, or surveys to the school or teacher for use in a sex education class or program.” HB 2628 not only makes it more difficult for public school students to have access to a variety of sources for sexual health education, it would prohibit Planned Parenthood in particular from being involved in any way.
HB 2771 - "Freedom of Conscience Act" relating to professionals abstaining from procedures they morally object;
HB 3059 - Requires signs be posted at all abortion provider facilities informing patients of their right to not be coerced into having an abortion;
HB 3144 - Increases regulation for women seeking an abortion, requiring an ultrasound one hour prior to the abortion procedure (with the screen facing the patient and an explanation of the view on the screen);
Already passed in the House is HB 2814. House Bill 2814 would make it clear that an Oklahoman couldn't sue a doctor, claiming the physician should have counseled a mother to abort her child. Sullivan, R-Tulsa, said the legislation fosters respect for babies with disabilities. A lawsuit would not be affected if the doctor is negligent in any way, Sullivan said.
Please check back, we'll update you on what bills pass and need help getting these killed in the Senate.Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Web MD article on Sex Ed for Your Kids
Web MD posted an article on the findings from the Journal of Pediatrics findings...check out Sex Ed for Your Kids: One Talk Won't Do...
Journal of Pediatrics Study on Sex Education
Pediatrics, the peer-reviewed journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, released a study (see link below) this morning that stresses the importance of frequent and open conversations between parents and their children about sex and sexuality.
This study underscores what Planned Parenthood has known for years: nothing is more powerfully helpful in keeping our young people safe and healthy than frequent and supportive conversations between parents and their children.
Here is a link to the study: http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/121/3/e612
This study underscores what Planned Parenthood has known for years: nothing is more powerfully helpful in keeping our young people safe and healthy than frequent and supportive conversations between parents and their children.
Here is a link to the study: http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/121/3/e612
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