Oregon

Oregon has a dismal record on life, failing to protect women, the unborn, the sick, and the dying.  For example, Oregon does not mandate informed consent or parental involvement before abortion, does not recognize an unborn child as a potential victim of homicide or assault, and does not limit destructive embryo research or human cloning.  Most disturbing is Oregon’s law permitting physician-assisted suicide. Abortion:

• Oregon does not provide even rudimentary protection for women considering abortion.  The state does not have an informed consent law, an ultrasound requirement, a parental involvement law for minors seeking abortion, abortion clinic regulations, or a prohibition on anyone other than a licensed physician performing an abortion.
• The state has an enforceable abortion reporting law, but does not require the reporting of information to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).  The measure pertains to both surgical and nonsurgical abortions and requires abortion providers to report short-term complications.
• Oregon taxpayers fund “medically necessary” abortions for women eligible for state medical assistance for general care. This requirement essentially equates to funding abortion-on-demand in light of the U.S. Supreme Court’s broad definition of “health” in the context of abortion.
• Oregon has established the “Sexual Assault Victims’ Emergency Medical Response Fund,” which pays for medical assessments and the provision of “emergency contraception” to victims of sexual assault—including the provision of and prescription for “emergency contraception” to minors.
• Hospitals must provide sexual assault victims with information about and access to “emergency contraception.”
• Health plans that provide prescription coverage must also cover prescription contraceptives.  Religious employers may refuse coverage if their primary purpose is the inculcation of religious values, if they primarily employ and serve people with the same values, and if they are nonprofit entities under federal law.

Legal Recognition of Unborn and Newly Born:

• Current Oregon law does not recognize an unborn child as a potential victim of homicide or assault.
• The state allows a wrongful death (civil) action when a viable unborn child is killed through a negligent or criminal act.
• Oregon does not require that an infant who survives an abortion be given appropriate, potentially life-saving medical care.
• Oregon has a “Baby Moses” law, establishing a safe haven for mothers to legally leave their infants at designated places and ensuring that the infants receive appropriate care and protection.
• The state funds drug treatment programs for pregnant women and newborns.

Bioethics Laws:

• Oregon maintains no laws regarding human cloning, destructive embryo research, fetal experimentation, or egg harvesting, nor does it maintain any meaningful regulation of assisted reproductive technologies.
• The state does not promote ethical forms of research.

End of Life Laws:

• Oregon permits physician-assisted suicide under statutorily-specified circumstances
• Oregon bans the sale of “suicide kits.”

Healthcare Rights of Conscience Laws: Participation in Abortion:

• A physician is not required to participate in or give advice about abortion if he or she discloses this election to the patient.
• A hospital employee or medical staff member is not required to participate in abortions if he or she has notified the hospital of this election.
• A private hospital is not required to admit a woman for an abortion.
• Department of Human Services employees who object in writing may refuse to offer family planning and birth control services.

Participation in Research Harmful to Human Life:

• Oregon currently provides no protection for the rights of healthcare providers who con­scientiously object to participation in human cloning, destructive embryo research, or other forms of immoral medical research.

What Happened in 2012:

• Oregon did not consider any life-affirming measures in 2012.

Recommendations for Oregon Top Priorities:

• Abortion Mandate Opt-Out Act
• Defunding the Abortion Industry and Advancing Women’s Health Act
• Women’s Right to Know Act
• Parental Notification of Abortion Act
• Women’s Health Protection Act (abortion clinic regulations)
• Abortion-Inducing Drugs Safety Act
• Crimes Against the Unborn Child Act
• Repeal of law permitting physician-assisted suicide

Other Priorities: Abortion

• Women’s Ultrasound Right to Know Act
• Coercive Abuse Against Mothers Prevention Act
• Child Protection Act
• Joint Resolution Commending Pregnancy Centers

Legal Recognition and Protection for the Unborn:

• Unborn Wrongful Death Act (for pre-viable child)
• Born-Alive Infant Protection Act
• Pregnant Woman’s Protection Act

Bioethics:

• Human Cloning Prohibition Act
• Destructive Embryo Research Act
• Prohibition on Public Funding of Human Cloning and Destructive Embryo Research Act

Healthcare Freedom of Conscience:

• Healthcare Freedom of Conscience Act

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