The Scarlet Letter

 

On Nov. 1, a law in Oklahoma will go into effect that will collect personal details about every single abortion performed in the state and post them on a public website. Implementing the measure will "cost $281,285 the first year and $256,285 each subsequent year. Here are the first eight questions that women will have to reveal:

1. Date of abortion
2. County in which abortion performed
3. Age of mother
4. Marital status of mother
(married, divorced, separated, widowed, or never married)
5. Race of mother
6. Years of education of mother
(specify highest year completed)
7. State or foreign country of residence of mother
8. Total number of previous pregnancies of the mother
(Live Births, Miscarriages, Induced Abortions)

Although the questionnaire does not ask for name, address, or "any information specifically identifying the patient, as Feminists for Choice points out, these eight questions could easily be used to identify a woman in a small community. "They're really just trying to frighten women out of having abortions, Keri Parks, director of external affairs at Planned Parenthood of Central Oklahoma, said. The Center for Reproductive Rights is challenging the law, arguing that "it violates the Oklahoma Constitution because it 'covers more than one subject' — a challenge that previously worked to strike down an abortion ultrasound law.

thinkprogress.org