South Dakota Abortion Law Faces Challenge
On Monday, a lawsuit was filed challenging South Dakota’s new abortion law that requires doctors to provide information to women who are seeking an abortion.
On Monday, a lawsuit was filed challenging South Dakota’s new abortion law that requires doctors to provide information to women who are seeking an abortion.
In March, South Dakota Governor Mike Rounds signed four anti-abortion bills that further tightened the state’s restrictions on abortion, which were already known as some of the toughest in the United States.
One of the bills requires doctors to inform women at least two hours before a procedure about the potential risks associated with abortion.
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Planned Parenthood, a pro-choice group, filed the lawsuit with the Sioux Falls federal court, arguing that the new law forces doctors to make statements that are vague or not true and places an undue burden on a woman’s right to choose.
South Dakota already has a law requiring that women are told of medical risks and information such as the age of the fetus. The new law further stipulates that doctors explicitly state that abortion terminates the life of the fetus and could lead to depression and suicide.
Supporters of the new law contend that women should be fully informed about all the risks of abortion before they consent to the procedure. However, opponents say that the new law goes beyond providing medical information and imposes certain religious or political views on women.
The other bills that were signed by Governor Rounds include a 24-hour parental notification law for minors seeking an abortion and a law creating a state task force to examine the history of abortion since 1973. The new laws are set to take effect on July 1.
