Opinion ID: 1186189
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Oklahoma's Statutes Regulating Abortion

Text: ¶ 14 As stated above, under Oklahoma's statutory scheme, the Oklahoma State Board of Health has the power to adopt rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of the Oklahoma Public Health Code. [15] The State Commissioner of Health is charged with enforcing the rules and regulations adopted by the Board. [16] ¶ 15 In 1978, the Oklahoma Legislature enacted sections 1-731(B) and 1-737 of title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes as part of the Oklahoma Public Health Code. Section 1-731(B) provides: No person shall perform or induce an abortion upon a pregnant woman subsequent to the end of the first trimester of her pregnancy, unless such abortion is performed or induced in a general hospital. Section 1-737 provides: An abortion otherwise permitted by law shall be performed only in a hospital, as defined in this article, which meets standards set by the Department. The Department shall develop and promulgate reasonable standards relating to abortions. Section 1-732 prohibits abortions after the fetus is viable [17] except for preservation of a woman's life or health. Section 1-732 creates a rebuttable presumption that a fetus is viable 24 weeks after the pregnant woman's last normal menstrual period. ¶ 16 Section 1-701(1) defines hospitals to include places where pregnant females are admitted and receive care incident to pregnancy, abortion or delivery. A general hospital is a hospital maintained for the purpose of providing hospital care in a broad category of illness and injury. [18] ¶ 17 In 1979, pursuant to section 1-737, the Department promulgated regulations governing abortions. The abortions follow the statutory scheme established in title 63. The effect of the statutory scheme and the regulations is to permit abortions during the first trimester [19] to be performed in hospitals, which under section 1-701(1) includes clinics and any other place that abortions are performed. From the end of the first trimester until the fetus becomes viable, abortions are statutorily permitted but must be performed in general hospitals as defined in section 1-701(2). After the fetus becomes viable, abortion is prohibited except to preserve the life and health of the pregnant woman.