Oklahoma Judge Strikes Down Law Aimed At Limiting Use Of Abortion-Inducing Drugs
The county judge says the law was unconstitutional because the restrictions it put on the use of medications for abortion did not apply also to other drugs. In a separate decision, a federal judge conditionally lifts a temporary restraining order in Tennessee that had stopped the state from enforcing an abortion law requiring new licensing standards for clinics.
The Associated Press:
Judge Strikes Down Oklahoma Law Restricting Abortion Drugs
A judge struck down an Oklahoma law Monday that required doctors to follow label instructions when prescribing abortion-inducing drugs, finding the rule is unconstitutional because it doesn't apply to other kinds of medication. District Judge Patricia Parrish invalidated the law, which the Republican-controlled Legislature approved and Gov. Mary Fallin signed last year. It had prohibited off-label uses of abortion-inducing drugs by requiring doctors to administer them only in accordance with U.S. Food and Drug Administration protocols. (Talley, 8/10)
Reuters:
Oklahoma Judge Strikes Down Law Limiting Use Of Abortion-Inducing Bills
An Oklahoma judge struck down on Monday a law aimed at limiting the use of abortion-inducing drugs, saying the measure was unconstitutional because it did not apply to other medication. The law requires that the drugs, including one known by the brand name of Mifeprex, be administered under U.S. Federal and Drug Administration protocols, which critics say pose dangers to women because the dosage is far higher than needed and requires women to make multiple visits to doctors. (Brandes, 8/10)
The Daily Oklahoman:
Oklahoma Sees Another Abortion Law Fall In Court
Oklahoma’s track record of trying to restrict abortion took another hit Monday when an Oklahoma County judge threw out a law restricting medication abortions, saying it violated the state constitution. ... In 2012, the state Supreme Court ruled as unconstitutional a bill that banned drug-induced abortions altogether. The more recent bill was intended to withstand court objections to the earlier measure. (Schwab, 8/10)
USA Today/The Tennessean:
Judge Lifts Restraining Order On Abortion Law — For Now
A federal judge on Monday conditionally lifted a temporary restraining order that had stopped the state from enforcing an abortion law requiring new licensing standards for clinics. The operator of two clinics — the Women's Center in Nashville and the Bristol Regional Women's Center in East Tennessee — claimed they were unable to obtain licenses from the state Department of Health in time to comply with the new law, which went into effect July 1. U.S. District Judge Kevin Sharp granted the temporary order in late June to allow the clinics to initiate the process, but lifted it Monday, noting the clinics and state licensing officials are now actively working toward becoming licensed. (Wadhwani, 8/10)