South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard signed a bill making it mandatory for doctors to give complete information to women on the health risks of abortion, the development of fetus, and the option of reversing chemical abortion, before proceeding with termination of pregnancies.
South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard signed a bill making it mandatory to provide basic information about abortions to women who have decided to undergo this procedure.
The bill, HB 1157, was made into a law last week, which 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 the consent a woman gives to abort a baby must be based on complete information regarding the scientifically known facts about the baby at the given gestational stage and prognosis of the procedure on women's health, and well as the options available to reverse the abortions if the woman so decides.
The law requires the woman to be told by the doctor that "the abortion will terminate the life of a whole, separate, unique, living human being," along with being provided with a "scientifically accurate statement describing the development of the unborn child."
This information needs to be provided by the abortionist to the woman two hours before the scheduled procedure, according to the bill.
Then the hospital should tell the woman of the medical risks accompanying abortion, such as "infection, hemorrhage, danger to subsequent pregnancies, and infertility," along with increased susceptibility to depression, suicidal tendencies, and anxiety disorders.
Also, the law states that the abortionist must inform the woman of a chemical abortion reversal pill, in case she wants to go back on her decision.
Brock Greenfield, Senator (R-District 2, SD) explained, "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."
A chemical abortion reversal protocol was developed by Dr. Matthew Harrison, when he found out that a child could be saved if progesterone is given as a supplement at the right time. The chemical abortion requires two pills to be taken in a gap of 2 days. But, if the reversal kit is administered in the first 3 days of taking the first pill, the chemical abortion can be reversed.
This kit has saved about 100 babies till now, reports say.
"This legislation begins a new chapter in the history of South Dakota to protect unborn babies in our state," said Rep. Fred Deutsch.
About two weeks ago, South Dakota passed a legislation to ban abortions after 20 weeks, as babies become capable to feel pain at this gestational age according to several medical studies.
Doctors who attempt to perform abortions on fetuses over 20-weeks, except in emergency situations, will be liable to pay $2,000 fine or up to one year in jail, or both.
