Oklahoma law blocked by court...for now.

Create by: Jillian

An Oklahoma Law that "requires physicians to ask patients, described as "mothers," up to 37 personal questions, including their age, marital status, race, years of education, number of prior pregnancies, reason for the abortion, method of abortion and payment and whether an ultrasound was performed", was blocked by legal action on Monday.

In addition to asking women for extemely personal and potentially identifiable information, this bill requires that information on patients who have abortion be posted on a state website.

The Center for Reproductive Rights filed a suit which argues that this bill violates the Oklahoma Constitution by covering more than one subject--it bans abortion based on gender, redefines some abortion-related terms and creates new duties for the state Department of Health.

Many advocates were appauled by the bill because of it's intrusive nature and questioned if the bill violates patient privacy protection that is guaranteed under the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.

Regardless--this bill is a barrier to service and limits a woman's access to a legal proceedure as evident by the comments the bill's Senate co-author Todd Lamb, a Republican who is running for lieutenant governor.

"This legislation is essential in protecting the sanctity of life. Too often the life of the unborn is taken for granted and I applaud my colleagues for their bipartisan support of a pro-life measure, despite attempts on the floor to sabotage this issue important to families across our state."

This "pro-life" measure will not end abortion, it will only cause women to seek abortion elsewhere putting them at risk and/or death. Banning abortion doesn't reduce abortion...but contraception does!

Maybe instead of wasting their time on anti-choice measures meant to restrict abortion care, Oklahama state government could focus on passing pro-active prevention measures.

We'll keep watching this story and provide updates on the status of the law and lawsuit!

Prevention Does Work!

Created by: Jillian

The Guttmacher Institute has released a report indicating that the number of abortions worldwide fell from 45.5 million in 1995 to 41.6 million in 2003 — the latest year for which global figures were available.

A key reason for that drop, the new report said, was that the portion of married women using contraception increased from 54 percent in 1990 to 63 percent in 2003 as availability increased and social mores changed. The report also notes that abortions worldwide are declining even as more countries liberalize their abortion laws.

Unfortunately, the report also notes that deaths from unsafe/illegal abortions kill 70,000 women annually. The survey concluded that abortion occurs at roughly equal rates in countries where it is legal and where it is highly restricted. The key difference, according to the report, is the high rate of deaths and medical complications from unsafe clandestine abortions in the restrictive countries.

This report is extremely important because it reminds us that placing restrictions on abortion doesn't stop women from seeking abortion, it only causes them to seek dangerous and unsafe care.

What reduces abortion is a reduction in unintended pregnancies and we can reduce unintended pregnancies by providing women with the preventive care they need--contraception!

Health Care for Everyone Means Health Care for Everyone

Created By: Jillian

Senator Chris Dodd issued a statement in support of health care reform that guarantees all women access to the care they need.

Thank you Senator Dodd! We are lucky to have such a vocal advocate for women's reproductive choices in Connecticut.

17th Annual Gala Celebrates Choices

Created by: Jillian

NARAL Pro-Choice Connecticut “celebrated choices” at their 17th Annual Auction & Gala on Friday, October 2nd at the New Haven Lawn Club. Many distinguished guests were in attendance, including Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, State Representatives Betsy Ritter, Deborah Heinrich, and Matt Lesser, and Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy. United States Senator Christopher Dodd was keynote for an event that celebrated not only our right to choose safe and legal abortion, but also the variety of choices available to women.

US Senator Dodd has been endorsed by NARAL Pro-Choice America PAC, NARAL Pro-Choice Connecticut’s national organization, because of his long distinguished record of protecting and defending a woman’s right to choose. Senator Dodd has been leading efforts to promote women’s reproductive choice in federal health care reform.

NARAL Pro-Choice Connecticut believes that being pro-choice means we support women in all of their reproductive choices and that women should receive accurate information on all of their options and have access to all available services. The 17th Annual Gala honored the relationships that build the pro-choice movement by featuring Kat Gloor’s Photo Documentary project and recognizing the organization’s Catherine Roraback Award winners.

Catherine Roraback was a civil rights attorney who argued for the right of married couples to obtain contraceptives in the U.S. Supreme Court case, Giswold v. Connecticut. This year’s honorees included State Representative Deborah Heinrich, Clarice Begemann, Kate Mitcheom, and Maria LaSala. The Catherine Roraback Awards are given to individuals and/or organizations that have demonstrated leadership, courage and activism in the struggle to protect privacy rights, the legal right to obtain an abortion, and access to reproductive health for all women.