Communications Division
State Capitol
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105

For Immediate Release: September 2, 2003

Audio Clip

Rep. Calvey (L) and Sen. Pruitt (R) discuss their plans to
introduce informed consent legislation

Pruitt, Calvey to Push Again for ‘Informed Consent’ Law

Study Shows Large Scale Suppression of Abortion Research

State Capitol, Oklahoma City – Senator Scott Pruitt, R-Broken Arrow, and Rep. Kevin Calvey, R-Del City, will redouble their efforts to pass an “informed consent” law in Oklahoma following the release of a study published in the Summer 2003 issue of the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons (click here for the study).

The study shows that scientists, women’s groups, and the media have for decades suppressed or ignored research that establishes a direct link between abortion and breast cancer.

Further, the report says that because of the politics of abortion, women considering an abortion are not given true informed consent about the real risks of the procedure as a result of withholding this evidence.

“This study confirms what many in the pro-life community have been saying for years: women are not being given complete information regarding the dangers and long-term health risks of having an abortion. I am more convinced than ever that Oklahoma needs an informed consent law, and will seek every avenue available in the upcoming legislative session to put a meaningful informed consent bill on Governor Henry’s desk. If the governor will put aside politics and do the right thing by supporting this effort, we will have a good chance of enacting informed consent in Oklahoma,” stated Pruitt.

“Whether one is pro-life or pro-choice, all reasonable people on both sides of this issue should be in favor of an informed consent law. It is far better for women to have the facts before making such a momentous decision, instead of finding out afterwards that the abortion adds to the risk of their long-term health. It is imperative for the Legislature to pass informed consent legislation in the next session to protect the rights of women to be fully informed,” said Calvey.

During the past legislative session, Calvey authored HB 1736, an informed consent bill requiring doctors to provide women with information prior to an abortion about how far an unborn child has developed, the medical risks of an abortion, and alternatives to abortion. When the House of Representatives considered SB 492, by Pruitt, Calvey successfully added HB 1736’s informed consent language to SB 492, which was then overwhelmingly passed by the House.

Pruitt strongly pushed his amended bill in the Senate, but it died in a conference committee after Senate President Pro Tem Cal Hobson, D-Lexington, and pro-abortion lobbyists rallied the Senate’s Democrat majority to unanimously oppose the pro-life amendment to the legislation.


For more information, contact:

Senator Scott Pruitt
Assistant Senate Republican Floor Leader
(405) 521-5602

Representative Kevin Calvey
Assistant House Republican Floor Leader
(405) 557-7370