New York Group Files Lawsuit Against Oklahoma Abortion Bill

NewsOn6.com and Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY -- An abortion rights group has filed a lawsuit in an effort to stop a bill from taking effect that would restrict how doctors prescribe and treat women with abortion-inducing drugs.

The New York-based Center for Reproductive Rights filed the legal challenge late Wednesday in Oklahoma County District Court. The group argues that the law arbitrarily restricts the use of medications that are used to induce first-trimester abortions.

Read Center for Reproductive Rights news release.

The group says the bill will prevent doctors from using their best medical judgment and is a "clear attack" on women's health.

The state Senate sponsor of the bill, Oklahoma City Republican Senator Greg Treat, has said the goal of the measure is to reduce the number of abortions performed in Oklahoma.

The suit was filed on behalf of the Oklahoma Coalition for Reproductive Justice in Oklahoma and Nova Health Systems d/b/a Reproductive Services, a non-profit reproductive health care facility located in Tulsa at 6136 East 32nd Place.

The bill is scheduled to become law November 1, 2011.

4/13/2011 Related Story: Oklahoma Anti-Abortion Insurance Bill Heads To Governor's Desk