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Is the Oklahoma legislature considering a bill to compile a database of women who have had abortions?

By Sue Bin Park
YES

Oklahoma House Bill 3216, which passed the House Public Health Committee but is awaiting a general House vote as of Mar. 4, 2024, would mandate a database of patients who have received abortion services in Oklahoma. Privacy concerns raised in committee prompted the author, Rep. Kevin West, R-Moore, to promise an amendment after approval by the Committee. The proposed edit would allow collection of information such as the date, medical indications that it was necessary to save the patient, and the gestational age of the fetus, without tracking individuals.

House Bill 3216 would also ban contraception that would induce abortions or prevent the implantation of a fertilized egg. While current language would imply prohibition of IUDs in addition to over-the-counter medications, West has clarified he is willing to amend the text to only apply to contraceptives administered without doctor supervision, such as emergency contraceptives, also known as the morning-after pill.

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