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Oklahoma, a state in the United States of America has passed what is now the US’ most stringent reproductive bill; one that outlaws nearly all abortions that begin “at fertilisation”.
According to a report by SheKnows, the bill which is called HB-4327, is modelled after Texas’ anti-abortion law which is primarily enforced by civilians and not law enforcement.
However, Oklahoma’s law is stricter as it bans all abortions happening from the moment of fertilisation while Texas bans abortions from the sixth week of pregnancy.
In addition, Oklahoma’s law allows abortion in cases of rape and incest only if the case has been reported to law enforcement.
This poses a problem as only one out of three assaults are reported in the first place.
Furthermore, the bill in Oklahoma makes abortion providers and individuals who “aid and abett” the termination of pregnancies liable to being sued by fellow civillians.
This means that anyone who helped pay for the procedure including charitable individuals who donate to organisations that provide abortion care, can be sued to court by random people if it is discovered.
Those who sue could be compensated for up to $10,000.
The only exceptions are those abortions medically necessary to “save the life of the unborn child” or the life of the parent “in a medical emergency.”
