Oklahoma Activists Wage Courageous Fight

Activists Draw National Attention

A courageous fight for women’s reproductive rights and medical science is taking place in Oklahoma these days, and it has drawn national attention.

Gov. Brad Henry recently vetoed a draconian anti-abortion bill, Senate Bill 714, that micromanages health care for all Oklahomans by forcing the state’s teaching hospitals to ignore recognized medical procedures.

Twice, the bill’s proponents have tried to override the veto in the Oklahoma Senate. Twice, they have failed by the minuscule margin of one vote.

Under the bill, state employees, funds and institutions could not be used to perform abortion procedures. The proposed law, sponsored by state Sen. James Williamson (R-Tulsa), would not make exceptions for rape or incest. The state already has some of the strictest abortion laws in the country.

The Oklahoma State Medical Association, the Oklahoma section of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Osteopathic Association, and the Nurses' Association are against the bill because they say it violates sound medical decision making. These organizations do not take political positions on the abortion issue.

The medical organizations argue the bill could prohibit medical personnel from getting proper training in the state, which ultimately affects health care for all of us.

The bottom line is this: Those women in Oklahoma who have the money can easily obtain a safe, discreet abortion here or elsewhere. The state’s impoverished women would have to go through a lot of hassle.

Pamela Merritt, writing in the Broadsheet section of Salon.com, recently highlighted the struggle of pro-choice activists in Oklahoma and called it a “reproductive-rights victory.”

In a conference call discussing the Oklahoma abortion legislation, some state pro-choice activists talked about how the local medical community has rallied around defeating the measure, according to the article.

But Williamson has vowed to continue his override attempts.

Health Care For Okie Republicans Only?

If you’re not disturbed by an Oklahoma doctor’s statement that he will refuse to treat any legislator who voted against a recent corporate immunity measure, then you haven’t considered the overall implications.

Should doctors be allowed to refuse medical treatment based on political views? If so, then Democrats need to make their escape plans right now or find doctors that place care for their patients above getting a new boat.

Dr. Peter S. Hedberg, a surgeon in Durant, told the Associated Press he would not treat any legislator who voted against Senate Bill 507 unless it was a medical emergency. Hedberg said he could buy a “nice big boat,” according to the article, for what he pays in malpractice insurance. (No, I’m not making this up.) He urged other doctors to join him in denying care to legislators who voted against the bill.

There are many things wrong with this. Let’s focus on two. (1) It’s simply wrong for a doctor to deny medical care to someone because of different political beliefs. Hedberg uses the “emergency” qualification, of course, but many in the state’s medical community will or should be appalled by his remarks. Doctors who oppose Hedberg’s position need to speak up for the sake of health care in this state. Can we trust our doctors will give us their finest care if we differ from them politically? It works both ways. Maybe Democratic doctors should come out and assure people they will treat them regardless of their political beliefs. (2) The doctor never mentions insurance companies, which are reporting record profits these days. Insurance companies are given a free ride by those who support these GOP-sponsored corporate immunity acts that are popping up across the nation? Why?

Why not make malpractice insurance rates for doctors a separate issue from corporate lawsuit immunity? Everyone should support lower malpractice insurance rates for doctors and any law or measure that enhances medical science. But we need to protect individual rights as well. There is a real balance here.

Gov. Brad Henry vetoed the bill after it passed by a slim margin in the Oklahoma Senate along party lines, with most Democrats voting against the measure. I guess that means Hedberg won’t treat Henry either. Imagine a world in which a popular state governor, who was elected in a landslide vote, can’t get health care because of his political positions.