PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — Abortion restrictions in South Dakota, characterized by some as among the toughest in the nation, will be tightened even more on July 1.
Gov. Mike Rounds announced Thursday that he has signed four anti-abortion bills passed by this year’s Legislature. Rounds, a Roman Catholic, is against abortion, and an overwhelming majority of state lawmakers also oppose abortion.
One new law will require doctors to inform pregnant women, in writing and in person, no later than two hours before abortions that the procedure ends the lives of humans and terminates the constitutional relationship women have with their unborn children. Legislators said the measure will ensure that women seeking abortions fully understand what they are doing.
"We require that people are fully informed in an adoption situation, and certainly when you’re terminating the life of an unborn child that same information, if not more, should be made available to the natural mother," said Rep. Roger Hunt, R-Brandon.
"Women who are thinking of having abortions need to make sure that they fully understand what they’re doing," said Hunt, prime sponsor of the new law.
The law will require women to be told that some people die during abortions and the procedure can lead to later depression, increased suicide risk and other problems.
"We need to find a way to inform women contemplating abortions exactly what the consequences are, not only at the time of the abortion but down the road, emotionally, mentally, as well as possibly physically," said state Sen. Julie Bartling, D-Burke.
"The information is not 100 percent there right now when a woman goes to an abortion clinic and they tell her what’s going to happen," she said Thursday. "I don’t think they’re told that an abortion could lead to a very emotional, mental trauma."
The law will be overturned in a costly lawsuit financed by taxpayers, abortion-rights supporters have warned. They said the measure undermines private and professional relationships between women and their doctors.
Bravo to Gov. Mike Rounds and the legislature of South Dakota. Then there is the usual Planned Parenthood nonsense about women who receive information about adoption and physical and emotional risks due to abortion is somehow interfering in the relationship between a patient and a doctor. A doctor-patient relationship should be built on trust and trust requires the truth to be told. Notice how PP is not claiming that they are already informing women about adoption and risks even though they supposedly counsel them.
"I hope next year the governor will work with Planned Parenthood to help women and their families prevent unplanned pregnancies in our state because that is the only way to prevent abortion," she said.
The state should place more emphasis on programs that help prevent unplanned pregnancies, Looby added. She said half of unintended pregnancies end in abortion.
"Everyone can agree that preventing unintended pregnancy and abortion is a worthy goal that demands serious attention," Looby said. [Source]
Now if abortion is morally neutral and it is only a tissue blob then why have the goal of reducing abortion? If abortion is morally equivalent to having a mole removed why the worry about stopping abortions? If there are no health risks that need to be told by the doctor to the patient then abortion to them should be no big deal. It is a good thing that they know they can not openly advocate abortion that they are forced to speak of it as a somewhat negative thing while at the same time making most of their money performing something that they say should be reduced.
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Gee. How often does AP identify the religious affiliation of a governor? How often do they do so when it’s not Catholic? Probable answer to both questions: only when Catholic.
ELC, I get what you’re aiming at. But it will be a very sad day indeed when Catholics no longer merit this distinction. We’re the only Church even partially standing athwart the tide.
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