South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, a Republican, has signed a groundbreaking “Med Ed” bill this week. The legislation aims to combat misinformation about abortion and provide guidance to healthcare professionals following the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision.
The legislation, known as HB 1224, was sponsored by state Representatives Taylor Rehfeldt, Jon Hansen, Oren Lesmeister, Senator Erin Tobin, and 26 additional lawmakers.
It mandates the creation of educational resources for healthcare professionals regarding their duty to offer emergency assistance to pregnant women under the state’s life at conception statute. This law prohibits abortion at any stage of pregnancy except when necessary to protect the mother’s life.
HB 1224 will “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 legislation states.
The resources will be developed by the state’s Department of Health and will be made available as direct education for doctors.
“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,” according to a press release from leading pro-life organization Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America.
“Other states have taken similar steps administratively, including Oklahoma and Kentucky attorneys general-issued advisory opinions.”
The bill passed “overwhelmingly” both the state House and Senate with huge support. The sole dissenting voice came from the ACLU, a far-left, pro-abortion group, the organization pointed out.
“Doctors don’t need legal explainers about the best course of treatment. They need to be able to do their jobs without political interference,” Samantha Chapman, ACLU of South Dakota advocacy manager, said, according to a press release. “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,” she said.
“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. Instead, 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,” she continued.
Kelsey Pritchard, the state public affairs director for SBA Pro-Life America, celebrated the approval of the bill as a victory for mothers in South Dakota.
“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,” Pritchard said.
“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,” she continued.
“With many in the media refusing to fact-check this obvious lie, other states should look to South Dakota in combatting dangerous abortion misinformation,” she added.
Meanwhile, the Texas Medical Board is presently reviewing a request to clarify the state’s provision regarding the “life of the mother.”
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