Despite the fact that every abortion law in the U.S. includes exceptions to save the life of the mother, abortion advocates continue to perpetuate the myth that abortion regulation puts women at risk.
South Dakota has become the first state in the nation to pass a medical education (Med Ed) law to help ensure this exception is fully understood, and pro-life advocates welcomed the effort to clear up rampant pro-abortion misinformation on the subject.
On March 18, 2024, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem signed a slate of 10 bills into law meant to “take care of people,” including HB 1224.
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A look at the nation’s first Med Ed law
HB 1224, which is sponsored by Rep. Taylor Rehfeldt (R), Sen. Erin Tobin (R), Rep. Jon Hansen (R), Rep. Oren Lesmeister (D), and 26 other lawmakers, also garnered bipartisan support and passed the state’s Senate in a 31-3 vote and the state’s House in a 63-6 vote.
The medical education law is the first of its kind and requires “the creation of an informational video and other materials to describe the state’s abortion law and medical care for a pregnant woman experiencing life-threatening or health-threatening medical conditions.”
The act specifically outlines that the South Dakota Department of Health is to create these materials and describe the following in terms understood by the average person:
1. The state’s abortion law
2. When abortion is and is not allowed
3. The most common medical conditions that threaten the life or health of a pregnant woman
4. The generally accepted standards of care and treatments for these conditions
5. The criteria which a practitioner might use to determine the best course of treatment for a pregnant woman and her unborn child when dealing with life or health-threatening conditions
It also states that the Department of Health should consult with the state attorney general, as well as medical and legal stakeholders who have expertise to create the video and upon completion. Additionally, the video and other medical educational materials should be available on the Department of Health’s website for both medical professionals and the general public to view and access.
Combating abortion misinformation
As pro-life laws have increased at the state level following the 2022 fall of Roe, pro-abortion activists have become louder with their claims that pro-life laws endanger the health and lives of women.
However, these baseless claims could not be further from the truth. Every abortion law in the country specifically outlines an exception for cases where abortion is needed to save the life of the mother.
For example, South Dakota’s law regulating abortion states that abortion is prohibited “unless there is appropriate and reasonable medical judgment that performance of an abortion is necessary to preserve the life of the pregnant female.”
These stipulations were also true prior to the Dobbs decision and doctors have always had to know and adhere to some sort of abortion limit and regulation.
Yet it has not stopped abortion activists from fear-mongering and making false allegations that that hospitals and clinics are suddenly unable to clearly interpret pro-life laws and this could lead to women being denied life-saving procedures in the event of ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage removal, or other extremely rare situations where pregnancy poses a life-threatening risk to the mother. It’s also important to note that treatment for miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy are decidedly different from abortion, though abortion apologists like to claim as well that women are at risk of not receiving care in these two scenarios due to abortion regulations.
In fact, the claim that pro-life laws are putting women’s lives at risk is one of the abortion lobby’s favorite talking points, alongside the common allegation that pregnancy help organizations are “fake clinics,” both of which have been proven time and time again as false.
Heartbeat International, the largest network of pregnancy help organizations in the U.S. and the world, hosts the Pregnancy Center Truth website (PregnancyCenterTruth.com), which provides the facts about pregnancy centers in contrast to the claims made by abortion supporters.
Thankfully, the video and other materials created under House Bill 1224 will similarly provide further clarity into the actual facts about South Dakota’s abortion law, both for any medical professional who would need it as well as the general public. HB 1224 should combat the misinformation surrounding the state’s law and put an end to the debate of South Dakota’s stance regarding the “life of the mother” once and for all.
The public’s view and the future
Despite bipartisan support in the state’s legislature, some opponents of the Med Ed law argue that the law still isn’t sufficient to address the confusion surrounding South Dakota’s law.
However, many abortion and pro-life advocates believe the law will do exactly what it’s designed to do - provide clarity on what’s allowed and not allowed when it comes to abortion in South Dakota.
The Senior Director of Medical Impact for Heartbeat International praised the legislation.
“In states with abortion limitations, big abortion continually seeks to stir up confusion and muddy the waters with fear,” Christa Brown said. “However, no U.S. abortion law limits treatment of miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy.”
“This educational bill helps to explain that,” Brown said. “Leave it to Gov. Noem to un-muddy the water that big abortion loves to swim in.”
“Contrary to the lies the abortion industry perpetuates, abortion restrictions actually improve women's healthcare,” she said.
“There is data to suggest that abortion is actually associated with higher mortality rates,” said Brown, “and limitations, such as what exists in South Dakota, may result in improved maternal outcomes.”
“The media has largely hidden this truth,” she added, “and this bill will lessen the fears some might have about the quality of healthcare available to them if they should require it.”
Tweet This: “Contrary to the lies the abortion industry perpetuates, abortion restrictions actually improve women's healthcare.”
Kelsey Pritchard, state public affairs director for SBA Pro-Life America, also celebrated the victory for moms in South Dakota with the following statement.
“We thank Gov. Noem for making South Dakota the first state to protect women’s lives with a Med Ed law,” Pritchard said. “Regardless of political affiliation or whether someone is pro-life or pro-choice, South Dakotans of all philosophies can celebrate that moms will be better protected through direct education to our doctors on their ability to exercise reasonable medical judgment in all situations.”
“Though every state with a pro-life law allows pregnant women to receive emergency care, the abortion industry has sown confusion on this fact to justify their position of abortion without limits,” Pritchard added. “With many in the media refusing to fact-check this obvious lie, other states should look to South Dakota in combatting dangerous abortion misinformation.”
Editor's note: Heartbeat International manages Pregnancy Help News.
