Medical Science Misrepresented by Oklahoma Abortion Bill

On April 25, 2019, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt (R) signed into law SB 614 which would force doctors to tell patients seeking medication abortions that the procedure can be reversed. However, professionals at leading medical groups such as the American Medical Association, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), and Planned Parenthood oppose this experimental course of treatment.

According to the ACOG, “claims regarding abortion ‘reversal’ treatment are not based on science and do not meet clinical standards. The [ACOG] ranks its recommendations on the strength of the evidence, and does not support prescribing progesterone to stop a medical abortion.”


Update:

On December 16, 2019 it was reported that a medical study that was attempting to see if medicinal abortion reversal was possible was cancelled after 3 participants ended up hospitalized for severe bleeding. The doctors in charge of the study stated that the risks to the health of the participants was too great to allow it to continue.

On September 25, 2019, the Center for Reproductive Rights challenged SB 614 in state court on the grounds that it violates free speech protections under the Oklahoma constitution as it forces physicians to "convey false information and non-medical statements with which they disagree" (Case No. CV-2019-2176).

On October 23, 2019, an Oklahoma County District Judge granted a temporary injunction blocking Senate Bill 614 from taking effect while the litigation proceeds.