South Dakota governor signs 4th pro-life measure requiring doctors to tell abortion facts on women before procedure
South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard signed into law on Wednesday a bill that will provide women with information that their chemical abortion can be reversed.
Daugaard signed HB 1157 that will "require that a doctor provide a woman additional information as a part of informed consent prior to performing a first trimester abortion."
The legislation requires that no less than two hours before a woman undergoes abortion, her doctor should provide her certain facts.
Among these, the abortionist must tell the woman "that the abortion will terminate the life of a whole, separate, unique, living human being," and "a scientifically accurate statement describing the development of the unborn child" at his/her gestational age, LifeSite News reported.
The law also mandates the doctor to tell the woman the risks associated with abortion including "infection, haemorrhage, danger to subsequent pregnancies, and infertility," and psychological problems such as depression, distress, and suicide ideation.
It is also important that the doctor should tell the woman who will have a first-trimester chemical abortion that after taking the first abortion pill, the abortion can be reversed.
Under chemical abortion, the woman takes two pills. LifeSite News reported that doctors found that abortion can be reversed by administering progesterone to the mother between the two pills.
Dr. Matthew Harrison said the Emergency Abortion Pill Reversal Kit has saved more than 100 babies from abortion.
"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.
Rep. Fred Deutsch, also the South Dakota Right to Life president, said, "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."
Under state law, a woman who about to undergo abortion should be informed at least 24 hours before the procedure that medical assistance benefits may be available for prenatal care, childbirth and neonatal care.