UPDATE: House Bill 1224 passed both chambers it now moves onto the Governor for further action.
House BIll 1244 would require the creation of an informational video and other materials describing the state's abortion law and medical care for a pregnant woman experiencing life-threatening or health-threatening medical conditions.
The ACLU of South Dakota opposes this bill. A video is not and should never be a substitute for a doctor’s medical education, experience and relationship with their patient. But in South Dakota, the lives of pregnant people experiencing life - and health-threatening conditions are at risk while hospital lawyers attempt to interpret the law into what kind of medical care doctors can provide for them. Ultimately, House Bill 1224 does nothing to directly address the issue that is really risking the lives of pregnant patients: South Dakota's abortion ban.
House Bill 1224 gives anti-abortion activists a guise to appear to care about pregnant patients while actually passing legislation that further enshrines anti-abortion cruelty.
