Appeals Court Forces Oklahoma to Allow Clinics to Kill Babies, But Abortions are Not Essential

State   |   Micaiah Bilger   |   Apr 14, 2020   |   9:58AM   |   Oklahoma City, OK

Oklahoma abortion facilities can keep killing unborn babies in abortions after the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Monday in favor of the abortion industry.

KOKH News in Tulsa reports the appeals court upheld a lower court ruling blocking the state from enforcing Gov. Kevin Stitt’s executive order as it applies to abortions.

Earlier, U.S. District Judge Charles Goodwin issued a temporary restraining order through April 20. On Monday, the 10th Circuit judges said Goodwin’s order can stay in effect because it does not cause irreparable harm to the state, CBS News reports.

Now, the Center for Reproductive Rights, Planned Parenthood and Oklahoma abortion facilities are seeking a full preliminary injunction, which would extend the order and allow abortions to continue until the case is over, according to KOKH.

“It’s important that the appellate court rejected Oklahoma’s attempt to ban abortions in the state,” said Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights, in a statement. “It’s time for Oklahoma and other states to stop exploiting the pandemic to shutdown clinics. Oklahoma’s true motive has never been more apparent. This has nothing to do with the current pandemic – it’s purely politics.”

But it is the abortion industry, which primarily does elective abortions, that wants a special exemption.

In March, Stitt, a pro-life Republican, issued an order to temporarily restrict all non-essential medical procedures to conserve medical resources. Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter promised to enforce the order. As LifeNews.com reported, Stitt later clarified that elective abortions are included in his executive order.

“We must ensure that our health care professionals, first responders and medical facilities have all of the resources they need to combat COVID-19,” Stitt said in a statement. “I am committed to doing whatever necessary to protect those who are on the front lines fighting against this virus.”

Just a few days later, the abortion industry filed a lawsuit seeking an exception that would allow it to continue killing unborn babies in abortions.

Across the country, cancer treatments, stents to prevent clogged arteries, dental work and joint replacements are being postponed because of state orders like the one in Oklahoma, the AP reports. These are important health care procedures; they save lives and relieve pain, but they are being delayed so that hospitals have more beds, equipment and staff to treat people suffering from the virus.

But the abortion industry thinks it is special. It wants its work killing unborn babies elevated above real health care.

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Recently, medical groups representing more than 30,000 doctors in America emphasized that abortions are not “essential” or “urgent,” and abortion facilities that continue to operate during the pandemic are being “medically irresponsible.” Common abortion complications include infections, blood clots, hemorrhaging and an incomplete abortion. Abortion risks include future preterm births, breast cancer, suicide, anxiety/depression, and death. And it is not true that abortions are safer than childbirth.

Yet, the abortion industry is suing multiple states for including elective abortions in their health mandates. Texas temporarily halted the killing of unborn babies in abortions, but courts have blocked Ohio and Alabama from doing so.

Although the situation is fluid, here are the latest reports from LifeNews.com on the status of abortion and orders to stop non-essential medical services:

States Attempting to Protect Babies From Abortion

Texas: Abortion centers are temporarily closed after Governor Greg Abbott’s order. But Texas abortion businesses have sued the state to reopen. Planned Parenthood has filed a lawsuit as well to do abortions and ignore the order. A federal judge blocked the order and allowed abortion centers to keep killing babies but a federal appeals court reinstated the order. Now Planned Parenthood is asking the Supreme Court to allow killing babies in non-essential abortions. The 5th Circuit then ruled that surgical abortions, but not the abortion pill, can be banned.

Maryland: Abortion centers are included in the abortion order to stop non-essential procedures but they have been caught violating the order.

Louisiana: Abortion centers are included in the order to close and all three closed initially but at least one abortion center has been caught doing abortions.

Ohio: Abortion centers are included in the order to close but they are refusing to close. The health department is now investigating those violations. Meanwhile, a judge has blocked the state’s order banning abortions.

Mississippi: Abortion centers are included in the order and the state’s sole abortion business has closed.

Tennessee: Tennessee Governor Wants Abortion Businesses to Close, Killing Babies is Not “Essential” Medical Care

Oklahoma: Oklahoma Gov Orders Abortion Businesses to Close, Killing Babies is Not “Essential” Medical Care. The Planned Parenthood abortion business has sued to keep doing abortions.

Kentucky: Attorney General Asks Health Department to Shut Down Abortion Clinics to Combat Coronavirus

Iowa: Governor Kim Reynolds Bans Killing Babies in Abortions to Save Medical Resources to Fight Coronavirus

Indiana: Governor Bans Killing Babies in Abortions to Save Medical Resources to Fight Coronavirus. At least one abortion business is refusing to comply.

Alabama: Alabama stopped abortions under its non-essential order until April 13th but a judge ruled the state can’t infringe on the so-called “right” to abortion. The judge also ruled that killing babies is somehow “essential” if abortion centers think so.

West Virginia: Gov Bans Killing Babies in Abortions to Save Medical Resources to Fight Coronavirus.

States Not Protecting Babies From Abortion

Kansas: Abortions are allowed in Kansas but a county in Wichita voted to close the late-term abortion clinic there.

Virginia: Christians Could be Jailed for 1 Year for Attending Church, But Abortion Clinics Can Keep Killing Babies

New York: New York has issued an order to stop non-essential health services but is not applying it to abortion centers. New York Attorney General: Coronavirus Crisis is No Reason to Stop Killing Babies in Abortions. NYC Mayor Bill DeBlasio has threatened to permanently close churches while letting abortion centers stay open.

Minnesota: Minnesota Issues Shelter at Home Order But People Can Still Go Kill Their Babies in Abortions

New Mexico: New Mexico Shuts Down Non-Essential Health Care, But Allows Abortion Clinics to Keep Killing Babies

New Jersey: Shut down non-essential health care but abortion centers are excluded.

Michigan: Governor Whitmer has stopped non-essential medical surgeries but allowed abortion clinics to keep killing babies. Leading pro-life groups have heavily criticized her.

North Carolina: Pro-life groups have called on the governor to stop abortions during the coronavirus crisis.

Washington: Shut down non-essential health care but abortion centers are excluded.

California: Shut down non-essential health care but abortion centers are excluded. But 11 Planned Parenthood abortion centers have voluntarily closed.

Pennsylvania: Shut down non-essential health care but abortion centers are excluded. Pro-life groups have criticized Governor Tom Wolf for letting abortions continue.

Maine: Shut down non-essential health care but abortion centers are excluded.

Puerto Rico: Puerto Rico Shuts Down Pregnancy Center Over Coronavirus, Lets Abortion Clinics Stay Open

Massachusetts: Shut down non-essential health care but abortion centers are excluded.

International

Canada has banned every other non-essential medical procedure except abortion.