Oklahoma Supreme Court Rules On “Personhood” Bill

The Oklahoma Supreme Court has ruled that a

proposal to give "personhood" rights to human embryos is

unconstitutional.

The ruling Monday comes as supporters of the measure are trying

to gather signatures to put it before Oklahoma voters on the

November ballot. Their effort would amend the Oklahoma Constitution

to define a fertilized human egg as a person.

Opponents contend it would ban abortions without exception. They

also say it would interfere with a woman’s right to use certain

forms of contraception and some medical procedures, such as in

vitro fertilization.

The state’s highest court ruled unanimously that the proposal

violates a 1992 U.S. Supreme Court decision and "is clearly

unconstitutional."

Dan Skerbitz of Personhood Oklahoma said he had not seen the

decision and could not comment on it.