Planned Parenthood Attorneys Fight South Dakota Abortion Restrictions

Attorneys for Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota will argue today in federal district court in Sioux Falls, S.D., against a new law that severely restricts abortion access.

The law requires a woman who is seeking an abortion to first prove that she has received “counseling” from one of the state’s unlicensed, unaccredited and unregulated crisis pregnancy centers. Further, it imposes a 72-hour mandatory delay for an abortion (the longest in the country) after a woman’s initial consultation with her doctor.

“The people of South Dakota twice have told their legislators at the ballot box that they don’t want politicians intruding in personal medical decisions,” said Sarah Stoesz, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota. “But lawmakers persist in creating these costly and divisive distractions. Their actions show complete contempt for voters’ wishes, not to mention women’s ability to make their own personal medical decisions.” 

Planned Parenthood is seeking a preliminary injunction to stop the law (HB 1217) from taking effect on July 1, 2011. 

“This law represents one of the most egregious attempts in the country to restrict access to health care,” said Planned Parenthood attorney Mimi Liu. “It was passed in flagrant disregard for well-established constitutional rights, and we are here today to ask the Court to stop this law from going into effect and to protect our patients and our doctors from the harm it would inflict.” 

Liu is joined in court by pro-bono attorneys from the law firm Dorsey and Whitney and by Brigitte Amiri of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

South Dakota’s abortion regulations already are the most burdensome in the country. The state has a 24-hour mandatory delay in place. In addition, a woman must be offered the opportunity to view a sonogram, and her responses must be recorded as part of her permanent medical records. And she must receive a government-dictated message from her doctor that is designed to intimidate and dissuade her. 

Since 1928, Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota has been the region’s leading provider and advocate for outstanding women’s and reproductive health care and education.  Planned Parenthood operates 26 clinics in Minnesota and South Dakota and an Online Health Center, providing quality and affordable services and education to nearly 64,000 women and men each year.    

Visit us on the web at www.ppmns.org