Oklahoma: Judge approves law disqualifying half of state’s abortion doctors but blocks ‘heartbeat’ legislation
by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – A District judge in Oklahoma on Monday allowed three out of five new pro-life state laws to stand, including legislation which would disqualify half of the state’s abortion physicians from practicing, Christian Headlines (CH) reports. At the same time, Oklahoma County District Judge Cindy Truong did block a “heartbeat” law banning abortion from about six weeks gestation, and a law categorizing the provision of abortion as “unprofessional conduct” by doctors.
One of the three pro-life laws Judge Truong allowed to take effect requires that anyone who carries out an abortion in the state must be “board-certified in obstetrics and gynecology.” On this point, the judge said: “This court … believes that irreparable harm would occur if we don’t put this requirement into effect.”
According to a press release issued after the ruling by the Planned Parenthood abortion provider, the board-certified law “would immediately disqualify over half of the abortion providers in Oklahoma from providing care.”
The two other laws the judge allowed would add more restrictions on accessing the abortion pill, CH reports.
In a statement about the ruling, Oklahoma Attorney General John O’Connor said: “The plaintiffs, in this case, have indicated they will appeal, and my office will continue to vigorously defend the pro-life laws enacted by the people’s representatives. On appeal, we will continue to argue that all five of the challenged laws should be upheld because the Oklahoma Constitution does not protect the right to abortion.”
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