Suspension of medical licenses part of bill aimed at restricting legal abortions in Oklahoma

Obtaining a legal abortion in Oklahoma would likely become all but impossible under two bills passed Tuesday by the Republican-led state House of Representatives.

House Bill 1102, by Rep. Jim Olsen, R-Roland, would suspend for one year the medical license of anyone performing an abortion, and HB 2441 — a so-called “fetal heartbeat” law — by Rep. Todd Russ, R-Cordell, would outlaw aborting fetuses once “cardiac activity” is detected.

That is generally described as happening about six weeks into the pregnancy, although many obstetricians argue that the sound detected is not actually a heartbeat because the heart has not yet developed.

Both bills allow exceptions to save the life of the woman involved.

The two measures are almost certain to face legal challenges, which may not have been entirely unintentional in the first place.

Read more: https://tulsaworld.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/suspension-of-medical-licenses-part-of-bill-aimed-at-restricting-legal-abortions-in-oklahoma/article_c5011676-80df-11eb-8803-af0382cb41ed.html