In April, the Oklahoma Legislature passed an informed consent provision through an act that requires pregnant women seeking an abortion to undergo an obstetric ultrasound at least one hour prior to having an abortion performed—including any anesthesia or medication taken in preparation of the lethal procedure. During the ultrasound, images of the preborn baby must be displayed and described to the women, unless she declines to see them.
Following passage of the law, Nova Health Systems challenged the constitutionality of the act, making several unsubstantiated claims, according to the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF).
ADF attorneys argue that all of the provisions stated within the law are constitutional, including the pre-abortion requirements of informed parental consent and mandatory ultrasounds.
ADF and Jubilee Campaigns’ Law of Life Project attorneys received a bench order on Monday granting their motion to intervene, allowing them to defend against a lawsuit waged by abortionists.
“Giving women all of the information they need prior to making such a weighty decision is far more important than an abortionist’s bottom line,” says ADF Senior Counsel Steven Aden. “Those attacking this law are obviously more concerned about financial gain than the best interests of women and their preborn children.”
