[AUDIO] Oz Said He Would Support The Supreme Court's Decision To Gut Roe v. Wade. According to transcript, “Host: And if the Supreme Court ultimately rules to to gut what would be Roe v Wade as we know it, which is considered sort of the established abortion law of the land, if this current Supreme Court undoes that, you would support that. MO: Very much so, because I support constitutional lawyers and judges, I want them to actually use the Constitution, this miraculous document that’s 250 years of thin paper that’s protected our nation, I want them to use that as their guiding tool not to legislate from the bench.” [Chris Stigall, 3/1/22]
[VIDEO] Oz Said The Supreme Court Should “Follow The Constitution” When Deciding On Roe V. Wade. According to transcript, “Question: ‘Are you in favor of reversing Roe vs. Wade? That you were in favor of Obamacare. You were in favor of red flag laws and you were against high capacity magazines and semi-automatic weapons.’ Oz: [...] The Supreme Court- thankfully, we have six conservative justices. They should actually follow the Constitution, which leaves it pretty clear to me what happens to Roe vs. Wade.” [Somerset Meet and Greet, PA, 2/16/22]
[VIDEO] When Asked If He Was Okay With Overturning Roe v. Wade, Oz Responded “I’m OK With The Supreme Court Making The Right Decision Based On What They Think The Constitution Says.” According to transcript, “Host: You’re pro-life. Where do you fall? Do you believe Roe v. Wade should be overturned or do you support limiting abortion? Oz: I’m pro-life with the three usual exceptions, especially the health of the mother. But but incest and rape as well. I’m OK with the Supreme Court making the right decision based on what they think the Constitution says Pennsylvania needs a conservative who will put America first in the ad announcing his candidacy.” [WGAL - News 8, 12/01/21
[VIDEO] Oz Said The Supreme Court Should Respect His Anti-Choice Stance And Should Not Have The Power To Take That Away. According to transcript, “‘We need to, as a nation, make sure the Constitution is appropriately followed and people like me, and you may be in the same camp, who are pro-life have our feelings respected. This is something that should not be taken away from us by judiciary legislating from the bench.’” [Fox News Channel: Fox News Primetime, 12/15/21]
Oz Said He Was “100% Pro Life.” According to Dr. Oz for U.S. Senate, “Dr. Oz is a successful heart surgeon – he has literally held a beating heart in his hands. He knows how precious life is and is 100% Pro-Life.” [Dr. Oz for U.S. Senate, 2/22/22]
December 2021: Oz Failed To Give A Concise Answer About When He Believed Life Began And When Performing An Abortion Should No Longer Be Legal. According to Newsweek, “Cain then asked Oz to clarify when he believes that life begins and when performing an abortion should no longer be legal. ‘As a doctor, I appreciate the sanctity of life. And for that reason, I'm strongly pro-life with the three exceptions I've mentioned. That's how I would vote.’ When asked again when he believes life begins, Oz said: ‘If I'm pro-life, then that's a decision that comes back to the sanctity of when you think life does begin. And I believe that begins when you're in the mother's womb.’ Cain adds: ‘‘When you're in your mother's womb?’ But that carries you all the way up to nine months of pregnancy.’ ‘No, of course not, life's already started when you're in your mother's womb,’ Oz replied. ‘But it's a rathole to get trapped in the different ways to talk about it. We need as a nation to make sure the Constitution is appropriately followed and people like me who are pro-life have our feelings respected, and this is something that should not be taken away from us by judiciary legislating from the bench.’” [Newsweek, 12/16/21]
[AUDIO] Oz Said Life Began At Conception. According to transcript, “I’m strongly pro life believe I believe life begins at conception. I’ve seen it’s tiny child’s heart because I operate on them. My heart surgeon when you see that brilliance and beauty and the sacredness of that little heart beating in that baby’s chest, you never deem to hurt it.” [WHP-AM, 1/24/22]
[VIDEO] Oz Said Life Begins In The Womb. According to transcript, “‘I’m pro-life. I do believe in three exceptions, the health of the mother being the primary one, but rape and incest as well. I would vote to ensure if a judiciary is reviewing a abortion law, they follow the Constitution. It’s quite clear that the Alabama case in point did not include the three exceptions.’ Dr. Oz was asked to answer the question setting aside his three exceptions and focus on his position, both as a doctor and a senatorial candidate, when we should draw the line on when abortion is legal. ‘As a doctor, I appreciate the sanctity of life, and for that reason I’m strongly pro-life, with the three exceptions I mentioned. That’s how I would vote… You know, again, if I’m pro-life then it’s a decision that comes back to the sanctity of when you think life does begin. I believe it begins when you’re in the mother’s womb… Of course life has already started when you’re in your mother’s womb, but it’s a rat hole to get trapped into different ways to talk about it.” [Fox News Channel: Fox News Primetime, 12/15/21]
The Daily Beast Obtained Audio From A Campaign Event This May Where Oz Staked Out His Most Extreme Position Yet, Telling Voters He Believes Abortion At Any Stage Of Development Is “Still Murder,” Including From The Moment Of Conception. According to Daily Beast, “But now, The Daily Beast has obtained audio from a campaign event this May where Oz staked out his most extreme position yet, telling voters he believes abortion at any stage of development is ‘still murder,’ including from the moment of conception. ‘I do believe life starts at conception, and I’ve said that multiple times,’ Oz said during the event, a tele-town hall held a week before the Republican primary. ‘If life starts at conception,’ Oz added, ‘why do you care what age the heart starts beating at? It’s, you know, it’s still murder, if you were to terminate a child whether their heart’s beating or not.’” [Daily Beast, 8/31/22]
Oz Was Answering An Attendee Who Wondered How Oz Could Square His Current Anti-abortion Stance With His Statements From 2019, Specifically That “The Heart’s Not Beating” Six Weeks Into A Pregnancy And The One-time Surgeon Explained That, At The Time Of The 2019 Interview, He Had Been “Concerned” About Making Sure Anti-abortion Laws Could Be Enforced. According to Daily Beast, “He was answering an attendee who wondered how Oz could square his current anti-abortion stance with his statements from 2019, specifically that ‘the heart’s not beating’ six weeks into a pregnancy. The one-time surgeon explained that, at the time of the 2019 interview, he had been ‘concerned’ about making sure anti-abortion laws could be enforced. ‘My mother-in-law wrote a lot of the original pro-life literature in Montgomery County,’ Oz told the conservative audience. ‘My argument in that radio interview was as a doctor, a heart starts beating at around nine weeks. So I was concerned that if legislators picked a timeframe that’s not medically accurate, it would invalidate the law.’” [Daily Beast, 8/31/22]
A Former Senior Staffer In The Pennsylvania Governor’s Office Told The Daily Beast That While Hardline Anti-abortion Rhetoric Carried Oz Through The Primary, It’s “Outside Of Where Most Pennsylvania Voters Are,” And Could Be A Strategic Mistake In The General Election. According to Daily Beast, “A former senior staffer in the Pennsylvania governor’s office told The Daily Beast that while hardline anti-abortion rhetoric carried Oz through the primary, it’s ‘outside of where most Pennsylvania voters are,’ and could be a strategic mistake in the general election. ‘In the current environment, that is such a massive gaffe, because it speaks directly to people’s biggest concerns about voting for an anti-abortion Republican like Dr. Oz,’ the former staffer said. ‘A lot of voters are very concerned—even if they are uncomfortable with abortion themselves—that there are gonna be these hardline bans that prevent their own family and friends from getting the care they need.’” [Daily Beast, 8/31/22]
This Person Added To Characterize A Woman Getting An Abortion In The Early Stages Of A Pregnancy As Murder Was “So Outside Of Where Most Pennsylvania Voters Are.” According to Daily Beast, “This person added to characterize a woman getting an abortion in the early stages of a pregnancy as murder is ‘so outside of where most Pennsylvania voters are.’ ‘Especially the voters Oz absolutely has to win,’ this former staffer continued, ‘like moderates and independents, suburban voters, voters in the middle of the ideology bracket in Pennsylvania.’” [Daily Beast, 8/31/22]
Emilia Rowland, A Fetterman Campaign Spokesperson, Told The Daily Beast That “If [Oz’s] Elected, He Will Be A Rubber Stamp To Criminalize Abortion, Appoint Justices Even More Radical Than Today’s, And Send Doctors, Nurses, And Patients To Jail.” According to Daily Beast, “‘Dr. Oz is wildly out of touch with the people of Pennsylvania who support abortion rights by 9-10. Dr. Oz wants to let extremists ban abortion with no exceptions in cases of rape or incest—in PA and across the country,’ Emilia Rowland, a Fetterman campaign spokesperson, told The Daily Beast. ‘If he’s elected, he will be a rubber stamp to criminalize abortion, appoint justices even more radical than today’s, and send doctors, nurses, and patients to jail.’” [Daily Beast, 8/31/22]
[VIDEO] Oz Said He Was “Pro-Life” With Three Exceptions, Health Of The Mother, Incest, And Rape. According to transcript, “Host: You’re pro-life. Where do you fall? Do you believe Roe v. Wade should be overturned or do you support limiting abortion? Oz: I’m pro-life with the three usual exceptions, especially the health of the mother. But but incest and rape as well. I’m OK with the Supreme Court making the right decision based on what they think the Constitution says Pennsylvania needs a conservative who will put America first in the ad announcing his candidacy.” [WGAL - News 8, 12/01/21]
[VIDEO] Oz Said There Should Only Be An Exception For The Life Of The Mother. “Oz: President Trump endorsed being quite clearly in the first point he made about why I'm a conservative America first Republican. He said that I am pro-life and I am pro-life. I've been very clear on my position throughout this race. There isn't, to my knowledge, evidence that I'm not pro-life. In fact, in crowded groups, I've been always out there saying that I'm pro-life…even if everyone else in the group is pro-choice.And I've been able to proudly proclaim as a heart surgeon who's taking care of little babies four or five days old, I met one recently, actually, that has now grown up to become a teenager. Saving those children's lives when they're that young is reflective of how small they are in the world. Host: Should there be an exception? MO: There should be an exception for the life of the mother. We don't want mothers dying as they try to give birth to a child.” [Republican PA U.S. Senate Debate, PA, 4/12/22]
During His Medical Career, The Cardiothoracic Surgeon Also Conducted Research Using Fetal Tissue — A Study Method That Was Taboo Or At Least Questionable To Many Of The “Pro-life” Voters He’s Trying To Win Over. According to Erie Times-News, “GOP Senate candidate Mehmet Oz has insisted to Pennsylvania voters that he believes life begins at conception, seeking to quell skepticism about his devotion to anti-abortion causes. But during his medical career, the cardiothoracic surgeon has also conducted research using fetal tissue — a study method that’s taboo or at least questionable to many of the ‘pro-life’ voters he’s trying to win over.” [Erie Times-News, 9/14/22]
Oz And 10 Other Scientists Ran Experiments Using Liver Cells From Fetuses At 14 To 16 Weeks Of Gestation, According To The 2000 Journal Article Summarizing Their Findings. According to Erie Times-News, “Oz and 10 other scientists ran experiments using liver cells from fetuses at 14 to 16 weeks of gestation, according to the 2000 journal article summarizing their findings. Though the paper doesn’t explain how the group acquired the fetal tissue, experts say the vast majority of researchers procure it directly or indirectly from abortion providers. The GOP candidate’s campaign did not respond to questions about the research.” [Erie Times-News, 9/14/22]
While Scientists Pointed To Major Medical Advances Made Possible By This Work, Anti-Abortion Advocates Argued That No Good Could Come Out Of Terminating A Pregnancy And They Also Raise Concerns That Family Planning Clinics Are Making Money From The Sale Of Fetal Remains To Researchers, Despite That Type Of Profiteering Being Federally Illegal. According to Erie Times-News, But some people who share the views he now espouses also reject research on tissue from aborted fetuses. While scientists point to major medical advances made possible by this work, anti-abortion advocates argue that no good can come out of terminating a pregnancy. They also raise concerns that family planning clinics are making money from the sale of fetal remains to researchers — even though this type of profiteering is federally illegal. ‘We believe that human beings, no matter what their age, no matter what their stage of development, should not be reduced to a commodity whose body parts can be bought or sold or traded for experimentation,’ said Bonnie Finnerty, education director for the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation.” [Erie Times-News, 9/14/22]