We'll See You in Court: South Dakota's Governor Signs Outrageous Law Restricting Abortion Care
Today, South Dakota's governor, Dennis Daugaard, signed a bill that creates unprecedented restrictions on access to abortion care. As we've blogged before, this law requires women to wait 72 hours between the first counseling session with the doctor and the abortion; it also requires women to first visit "crisis pregnancy centers," entities that are notorious for providing false and misleading information; and requires doctors to tell the woman of any possible risk factor published in medical and psychological journals since 1972. These new restrictions are on top of the long list of abortion restrictions in South Dakota, and come from a state that has one abortion provider.
If the law were to take effect, the consequences for women in South Dakota would be devastating. Given that Planned Parenthood is the only abortion provider in South Dakota, and they are in Sioux Falls, some women already must travel great distances to see a physician. But under the law, they would have to make to make two trips: one to visit with the doctor in person, and then another 72 hours later for the abortion. In the meantime, they must visit a crisis pregnancy center, which, under the law's requirements, must be anti-choice.
At the crisis pregnancy center, the woman must tell the staff her private reasons for having the abortion and give the name of her doctor. These intrusions into women's private lives are outrageous, and they also put physicians at risk for violence and harassment.
And just in case the law was not cruel enough, there is no exception for women who have been raped, who are survivors of incest, or have a wanted pregnancy that is doomed.
So we're headed to court. We won't stand for this blatant mistreatment of women and blatantly unconstitutional law. We'll join Planned Parenthood in court to stop the law in its tracks so no woman is faced with these burdensome, humiliating requirements.
Learn more about reproductive freedom: Subscribe to our newsletter, follow us on Twitter, and like us on Facebook.
Mar 23rd, 2011 at 12:22am
ALL YOU WANT IS TO KILL BABIES AND MAKE MONEY OVER 360 MILLION DOLLARS OF TAXES WENT TO PLANNED PARENTHOOD LAST YEAR AND I DON'T WANT MY MONEY GOING TO KILLING BABIES
Mar 23rd, 2011 at 10:48am
Those of us in South Dakota who believe women are free and equal citizens look forward to your assistance in overturning this egregious law.
Mar 24th, 2011 at 3:12pm
You're making it up.
Mar 25th, 2011 at 10:46pm
This article grossly mischaracterizes the new law.
Mar 27th, 2011 at 1:28am
Killing babies? how is an embryo a baby
Apr 7th, 2011 at 11:48pm
the aclu is a nazi facist organization
Apr 8th, 2011 at 9:59am
Thank you for all you do. We here in Pennsylvania will be watching this case closely!
Apr 23rd, 2011 at 7:46pm
Thanks for taking this on. My check is in the mail.
Post new comment