Abortion drug, DNA sample proposals proceed to full House

By Michael McNutt
Published: February 21, 2008

The House Judiciary and Public Safety Committee approved a measure Wednesday that would require a DNA sample to be taken from anyone arrested for a felony and another that would enact additional regulations for doctors who prescribe medication that induces an abortion.

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Both measures go to the full House.

DNA samples
House Bill 3059 would require a blood or saliva sample for DNA testing to be taken when a person arrested on a felony complaint is booked in a jail.

Rep. Skye McNiel, R-Bristow, the bill's co-author, said the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation estimates it will cost about $550,000 to set up the system. Annual costs are estimated at $50,000.

Abortion medications
The committee also approved HB 2181, which states that a doctor must meet criteria established by federal law to prescribe RU-486, or mifepristone, to induce an abortion.

McNeil said some doctors in the state who are prescribing the pills are not having the women return in 14 days for a checkup.

"Some of these women are having a blood infection, which eventually will kill them or hemorrhaging too much,” she said. "They expect some bleeding, but they don't know what is excessive. So we're losing some women.”

Doctors whose patients have trouble with the drug are required to fill out forms, according to the bill.

"If they don't fill out this paperwork and if they do not give the drug in a proper manner, it's a felony,” McNeil said.


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Kevin, I was thinking exactly the same thing. Seems like our government will not be happy until they have everyone's DNA on file. One day maybe we can just collect it at birth, ya know, in case babies gets mixed up or abducted... yada, yada, yada. And on the abortion pill, I don't recall hearing or reading about any Oklahoma woman dying from using RU-486. Based on this 2006 MSNBC article www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11879204 , it looks like Rep. McNeil is trying to impress Dr. Coburn. As recently as 1 year ago, only 7 deaths in the US had been linked to RU-486. That's linked, not conclusive proof of causality, and that's out of an estimated half a million treatments. And those 7 deaths resulted from un-approved routes of administration of the drug. Sounds like malpractice to me!
Concerned, Central Oklahoma - Feb 21, 2008 7:05 PM
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I don't think just beign arrested is justification for a DNA sample. Mabye after a conviction. That "innocent until proven guilty" thing, ya know?
Kevin, Shawnee - Feb 21, 2008 10:51 AM
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