For Immediate Release: March 25, 2024
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Measure Stops Abortion Lobby Misinformation from Endangering Women
Pierre, S.D. – Gov. Kristi Noem has signed the South Dakota Med Ed Bill to protect pregnant women’s lives from abortion misinformation. Sponsored by Rep. Taylor Rehfeldt (R), Sen. Erin Tobin (R), Rep. Joh Hansen (R), Rep. Oren Lesmeister (D), and 26 other lawmakers, the bipartisan bill establishes materials to educate medical professionals on the ability and necessity of providing emergency care to pregnant women under South Dakota’s life at conception law.
The South Dakota Med Ed Bill is the first legislation of its kind drafted to end the confusion caused by the abortion lobby through direct education to doctors. Other states have taken similar steps administratively, including Oklahoma and Kentucky attorneys general issued advisory opinions.
Kelsey Pritchard, state public affairs director for SBA Pro-Life America, celebrated the victory for South Dakota moms:
“We thank Gov. Noem for making South Dakota the first state to protect women’s lives with a Med Ed law. 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. With many in the media refusing to fact-check this obvious lie, other states should look to South Dakota in combatting dangerous abortion misinformation.”
The bill passed overwhelmingly on the floors of both chambers and through House and Senate state affairs committees with only one instance of opponent testimony. The sole group that publicly spoke against the Med Ed legislation was the ACLU.
Under HB 1224, the materials will be established through the Department of Health and with input from the attorney general, medical professionals and legal experts. The video will cover the details of the state’s abortion law, the most common medical conditions that threaten the life or health of a pregnant woman, the standards of care for treating a pregnant woman in a medical emergency, and a practitioner’s ability to use reasonable medical judgment in all situations.
The Texas Medical Board is currently considering a request for the clarification of the state’s ‘life of the mother’ provision. The board held a public hearing on Friday. SBA Pro-Life America is recommending the board adopt Med Ed materials educating doctors and refuting the lie pro-life laws prevent women from receiving medical care.
Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America is a network of more than one million pro-life Americans nationwide, dedicated to ending abortion by electing national leaders and advocating for laws that save lives, with a special calling to promote pro-life women leaders.
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The SBA Pro-Life America National Pro-life Scorecard is a tool that helps hold members of Congress accountable for their legislative records on life and that highlights leadership in the fight to serve women and save babies.
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