SD committee tables abortion doctor law until Wednesday

The SD Senate Health and Human Services committee considered Senate Bill 92 this morning and tabled it until Wednesday.  SB 92 would require abortion doctors in SD be available to abortion-bound women the day before the procedure. Currently, despite the false rhetoric we are always hearing about this being a decision between a woman and her doctor, women in SD are afforded no opportunity to talk to a doctor prior to the moment the procedure begins. There is no follow up or aftercare available to women after the abortion.

The committee reached an impasse with three voting for it and three voting against it. Those in favor of SB 92 see the need to require abortion doctors to actually act like doctors. Those against SB 92 say the state shouldn't make scheduling decisions for doctors.

One former abortion doctor told me Planned Parenthood chided her one time for counseling an ambivalent woman to wait until she is sure an abortion is what she really wanted. Planned Parenthood told this doctor she was there to do procedures not give advice. Because abortion doctors don't act like doctors and therefore women suffer, laws like SB 92 are needed in our state.

The committee members are Stan Adelstein (R-Rapid City), Chair; Tom Hansen (R-Huron), Vice-Chair; Tom Dempster (R-Sioux Falls), Jason Gant (R-Sioux Falls), Sandy Jerstad (D-Sioux Falls); Pam Merchant (D-Brookings); Kathy Miles (D-Sioux Falls).  Here's how they voted.  I'm sure they would love to hear from you.