South Dakota Panel Studies Whether Women Get Enough Abortion Info

State   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Sep 24, 2005   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
September 24, 2005

Pierre, SD (LifeNews.com) — A legislative study panel put together by the state legislature is examining whether or not women are receiving enough information about abortion’s risks and alternative prior to have one. As expected, experts from both sides disagreed.

Vincent Rue of the Institute for Pregnancy Loss said women are often undergoing a tremendous amount of stress during pregnancy — particularly an unexpected pregnancy which has them considering abortion.

Rue said a large percentage of women who wind up having abortions report later that they wish they had more information about the procedure and more time to reflect on it. Some later feel pressured or rushed into the abortion.

"If an abortion decision is not voluntary, consent is not possible," Rue told the South Dakota Task Force to Study Abortion.

The Associated Press reports that pro-abortion New York attorney Lynn Paltrow said many states have laws that require abortion facilities to provide women with certain information about problems associated with abortion and pregnancy help women receive. But not all do.

The panel decided to take testimony from experts and then open the testimony to the public at a hearing scheduled for Oct. 20-21. The panel must report its findings to the state legislature by December 1.

During his comments, Rue suggested that South Dakota widen the time between providing women with information abortion and the day of the abortion. He said the state should do a better job screening women who may develop physical or psychological problems as a result of the abortion and he said some information should be drafted specifically for teenagers.

Rue added that state law should require abortion businesses to report cases of statutory rape, and women considering an abortion should be given even more information on childbirth and adoption alternatives.

"If women are not prepared and they make a decision in a highly stressful environment, then in my opinion that decision is not one they will comfortably live with the rest of their lives," Rue said, according to the AP report.