Appeals Court Allows Government Interference in Doctor-Patient Relationship

Per the AP:

A federal appeals court ruled that South Dakota can begin enforcing a law requiring doctors to tell women seeking abortions that the procedure ends a human life.

The 7-4 decision by the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis sends the case back to U.S. District Judge Karen Schreier of Rapid City for proceedings that will result in a decision on whether the law passed by the 2005 South Dakota Legislature is constitutional.

This is bad. Casey Murschel, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice South Dakota, said in a release:

"We all agree that a woman considering abortion, like any patient, should receive from her doctor full and unbiased information about a range of medical options, but the law in question puts politicians into the examining room," said Murschel, who as a state legislator voted against this measure. 

"Today's action by the appeals court illustrates how South Dakota could become the epicenter of legal challenges around abortion," Murschel said. "The same people who supported this interference in the doctor-patient relationship now are pushing for an abortion ban that, if passed, could further entangle our state in costly litigation. It is time for all South Dakotans--Republicans, Democrats, and Independents--to end these politically motivated attacks on our privacy. One of the best ways to send that message is by voting against the abortion ban in November."

For more information, please visit the South Dakota Campaign for Healthy Families.