South Dakota's Gov. Signs Fourth Pro-Life Measure, Mandating Full Disclosure of Facts to Women Seeking Abortions

Veronica Neffinger | iBelieve Contributor | Updated: Mar 21, 2016

South Dakota's Gov. Signs Fourth Pro-Life Measure, Mandating Full Disclosure of Facts to Women Seeking Abortions

South Dakota’s governor has signed a fourth pro-life law which requires abortion clinics to make sure women seeking abortions are making informed decisions.

Christian Today reports that Governor Dennis Daugaard signed HB 1157 into law. The new measure will “require that a doctor provide a woman additional information as part of informed consent prior to performing a first trimester abortion.”

The bill mandates that an abortion clinic must make it clear to the woman seeking an abortion “that the abortion will terminate the life of a whole, separate, unique, living human being.” 

The new law also requires abortion clinics to disclose the gestational development of the child to the woman, as well as information on the possible side effects of an abortion, including “infection, hemorrhage, danger to subsequent pregnancies, and infertility,” in addition to psychological trauma such as depression and suicidal thoughts.

The law also mandates that doctors prescribing chemical abortion pills must clearly inform the woman that the effect of the pills taken in the chemical abortion can be reversed if the woman should change her mind.

“Should the female decide that she has regrets relative to her decision, we are just asking that it be very clear [to her] that there is still a very real chance of a viable pregnancy and birth should she continue the process," said Republican state Senator Brock Greenfield.

South Dakota Rep. and Right to Life President Fred Deutsch expressed his excitement on the four pro-life measures added to South Dakota law this year: "This completes the slate of bills South Dakota Right to Life helped develop and introduce this year. We are four for four! This legislation begins a new chapter in the history of South Dakota to protect unborn babies in our state,” he said.

Publication date: March 21, 2016



South Dakota's Gov. Signs Fourth Pro-Life Measure, Mandating Full Disclosure of Facts to Women Seeking Abortions