S.D. Attorney General Appeals Judge's Ruling On Abortion Law

Main Category: Abortion
Also Included In: Litigation / Medical Malpractice
Article Date: 23 Sep 2009 - 4:00 PDT

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South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley (R) is appealing a U.S. District Court ruling that struck down some provisions of a state informed consent law requiring physicians to make specific disclosures to women before abortion procedures, the Sioux Falls Argus Leader reports (Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 9/17). Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota sued the state to prevent the law from taking effect (Women's Daily Health Policy Report, 8/21).

In August, U.S. District Judge Karen Schreier upheld a provision of the law that requires doctors to inform women seeking abortion that the procedure "will terminate the life of a whole, separate unique living human being." Schreier struck down a provision requiring doctors to inform patients that abortion increases the risk of suicide and suicidal thoughts. Schreier said that suicide is not a known risk of abortion. She also struck down a provision that requires women be told that they have a legally protected relationship with the fetus. According to a news release, Jackley wants the rejected provisions to be heard on appeal by a full court of appeals, rather than a three-judge panel (Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 9/17).

Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.nationalpartnership.org. You can view the entire Daily Women's Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery here. The Daily Women's Health Policy Report is a free service of the National Partnership for Women & Families, published by The Advisory Board Company.

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