State Reports Zero Abortions Preformed In Oklahoma Since Overturning Roe V. Wade

On June 24, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the nearly 50-year precedent established in Roe Versus Wade that had granted the right to an abortion.

The ruling sent shockwaves across the country including in Oklahoma, where nearly all abortions became illegal.

Since the Dobbs Decision overturning Roe v. Wade, the Oklahoma State Health Department hasn’t received any reports of an abortion being performed in Oklahoma, according to an OSDH spokesperson.

According to health department data, in the 10 years before the decision, Oklahoma averaged more than 4,428 abortions a year. Despite the procedure remaining legal in emergencies to save the life of a pregnant mother, the state health department says zero abortions have been reported in Oklahoma since May of 2022.

In neighboring Kansas, where the procedure remains legal, a 2022 report showed out-of-state abortions more than doubled following the decision, jumping from 3,912 in 2021 to 8,475 in 2022. Kansas officials have not yet released any data for 2023.

“Because of that change, women have just felt more endangered,” Oklahoma City protest organizer Lia Camp said.

Monday, women at the Oklahoma state capitol joined groups across the country in protesting against what they call restrictive abortion laws.

“The choice of whether or not to have a baby should be a personal freedom that we should all have,” Camp said.

In Washington, D.C., Oklahoma Senator James Lankford said he’s celebrating the two-year anniversary.

“We all have the opportunity to be able to look at the sonogram and be able to look at a developing child and say ‘is that tissue just a random collection of cells or is that child in the womb, sucking their thumb stretching their legs and their feet?’” Lankford said.

Catholic Charities of Oklahoma said they have not seen an expected uptick in adoption services.

“Since the Dobbs Decision was made two years ago, the state of Oklahoma has had plans in place to assist women choosing to parent,” Catholic Charities Director of Adoption Services Krysti Alexander said.

“The Choosing Childbirth Act has provided additional resources that are given to women with children needing assistance to make their homes safer and healthier,” Alexander said. “With these additional resources, it allows us to expand our social service programs to more Oklahomans.”  

Gov. Kevin Stitt said in a statement in the two years since the Dobbs Decision, Oklahoma has become the most pro-life, pro-family state in the nation.

“When I ran for governor, I promised to sign every piece of pro-life legislation that hit my desk, and I proudly delivered,” Stitt said in a statement. “And I’m proud of the strides we’ve made to protect the unborn. Oklahoma recognizes life at conception, and I believe every child is made in the image of God.”