Okla. Senate approves anti-abortion 'personhood' bill
Bill still needs to be approved by the house
The Oklahoma Senate has overwhelmingly approved an anti-abortion "personhood" bill that declares life begins at conception.
The vote Wednesday upset doctors who fear the proposed law will jeopardize reproductive medicine.
The bill now heads to the House, where it is expected to pass. Republican Gov. Mary Fallin typically won't comment on pending legislation, but she has described herself as strongly "pro-life."
The bill provides embryos and fetuses with "all the rights privileges, and immunities" of other citizens.
Republican Sen. Brian Crain says it's modeled after a 1986 Missouri law that was later determined by the U.S. Supreme Court to be constitutional.
The bill is opposed by the Oklahoma State Medical Association, because of concerns it could affect reproductive medicine and ban certain forms of birth control.