And just when you thought the federal government was making major overhauls in healthcare policy, the LA Times reports on states doing the same. This time; however, doctors (and patients for that matter) might have been given a break. An Oklahoma judge just yesterday overturned a law passed in 2008 requiring doctors to describe to patients seeking abortions particular features of the fetus on ultrasound prior to the patient making the decision of whether or not to proceed with the abortion.  The thought was that if doctors were forced to provide human descriptors of the fetus to the patient, it would somehow persuade her into thinking twice about having an abortion.  Let’s raise our mugs to Judge Robertson for realizing the coercion underlying that law.

Another provision of the law allowed doctors to refuse to participate in the treatment of patients undergoing elective termination of pregnancy, which was also overturned.  This certainly stirs up some debate as to whether doctors can be forced to participate in something they feel is morally or ethically challenging.  The care of the patient, under whatever circumstance, should be the first priority.

Lastly, the Oklahoma law required clinics performing elective terminations to identify themselves by placing a sign or symbol on the outside of the building.  Thanks again, Judge Robertson, for getting rid of this discriminatory piece of legislature.  While it’s always beneficial for patients to find health care as easily as possible, this is not the way to do it.  If anyone has walked or driven by the outside of a Planned Parenthood clinic, you know that there is a religious-based posse of protesters harassing the patients who walk into the clinic, again trying to persuade them to think twice about having an abortion.  While it is the protesters’ First Ammendment-guaranteed right to be there having their voices heard, it is not the government’s right to advertise places for them to meet, with the result being more intimidation felt by the patients visiting these offices, whether they’re there for a pregnancy termination or other appointment.

You can find out more about individual state laws on elective termination of pregnancy by visiting the Guttmacher Institute.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 19th, 2009 at 7:58 am and is filed under In the News, Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.