SB 714

This bill was originally intended to restrict the use of state funding for abortions.

But the House of Representatives added numerous amendments to the original bill including no exceptions for congenitally abnormal fetus or for medical conditions of the mother which could worsen with continuing pregnancy: i.e. marfans syndrome (aortic rupture); diabetes (loss of eyes or kidneys); lupus (loss of kidneys).

And the bill restricts patient-doctor communication which compromises both our physicians and poor, Medicaid funded, patients who seek (and certainly deserve quality) medical care at public clinics and facilities like the OU Health Sciences Center.

Most state health department clinics and public health clinic systems -- which were developed to give prenatal care to the poor -- would have no ability to screen for congenital anomalies or to offer the usual medical care to improve the chances of women having good outcomes.

All other things being equal, Oklahoma’s laws should work to improve – not restrict -- quality medical treatment for Oklahoma’s poorest citizens. SB 714, as currently constructed, seems to work against that goal.