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.
