Trust Women protests Governor Fallin’s signing of HB 1409

This week, Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin signed HB 1409 into law.  Julie Burkhart, founder and CEO of Trust Women and South Wind Women’s Center issued the following statement:

“HB 1409 makes it more difficult for Oklahomans to access necessary medical care by expanding the period of time a woman must wait to have an abortion from 24 to 72 hours. Women are capable of making their own decisions about their health and life and an additional 48 hours only serves to make their circumstances more challenging not change their minds.  Women understand the consequences of their decisions and are resolute in their choices. 

A significant percentage of Oklahoma’s population lives in rural and remote areas.  Women in Oklahoma already face serious barriers to access reproductive health care, not the least is the appalling shortage of gynecologists in the state.  Women must travel farther, wait longer and pay more to access necessary reproductive health care.  Since the state increased the waiting period to 72 hours, women may have to make additional long trips from their homes, staying in hotels, away from their families and responsibilities.  Increasing the waiting period may also push a women over the state’s the legal limit, forcing her to leave her home and travel to another state to receive necessary health care.  It is unconscionable that women would have to travel that far to obtain basic, legal medical care. 

I am very disappointed in the actions of the Oklahoma Legislature and Governor Fallin in enacted this legislation.” 

Trust Women opens clinics that provide full-spectrum reproductive healthcare, including abortion services, in underserved communities so that all women can make their own decisions about their health care. Trust Women works to expand access in the Midwest and the South.

The Gayly – May 9, 2015 @ 10am.