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Bill Allowing Wrongful Death Suits Against Doctors Providing Abortions Goes to Oklahoma Governor

U.S. Army

A bill sent to the governor by the Oklahoma House on Friday will let parents and grandparents bring wrongful death suits against doctors who perform abortions.

Senate Bill 1728’s House Author, Inola Republican Rep. Tom Gann, believes abortion is a multimillion-dollar a year industry in which doctors coerce women into having the procedure up to 70% of the time.

"In 2014, the statistic I have right now is that the average abortion cost is $550. That’s all they want," Gann said.

None of Gann’s claims are supported by legitimate studies.

Minority Leader Emily Virgin said there’s already a law prohibiting medical procedures without informed consent to address the potential issue of coercion. She added Republicans have passed on hearing other bills that could help women, like one to address Oklahoma’s gender pay gap.

"So, do not tell me that this is about doing what’s best for women and helping women and families, because it is not. This is about a bill that will look good in an election year," Virgin said.

Supporters of the bill expect a legal challenge if it is signed into law and say several out-of-state firms have offered to represent the state pro-bono.

Matt Trotter joined KWGS as a reporter in 2013. Before coming to Public Radio Tulsa, he was the investigative producer at KJRH. His freelance work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times and on MSNBC and CNN.
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