South Dakota Abortion Ban Gets Backing From Hundreds of Doctors, OBGYNs
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
October 26, 2008
Pierre, SD (LifeNews.com) — Hundreds of doctors, including specialists in obstetrics and gynecology, are endorsing Measure 11, the second effort to ban abortions in South Dakota. The ballot measure would prohibit most abortions, with the exception of those in cases of rape, incest or to directly save the life of the mother, and comes after the first attempt failed in 2006.
The endorsement of the medical professionals comes at a time when abortion advocates in South Dakota are accused of misleading voters about the ramifications of the abortion ban.
"It is unfortunate that the pro-abortion forces in America are determined to protect the abortion industry in South Dakota with lies and deceit," Brandi Gruis, a Vote Yes for Life representative, told LifeNews.com. “South Dakotans deserve better."
The organization says it has the support of the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists, which represents over 2,000 doctors and specialists across the United States, with some members in South Dakota.
Dr. Joe DeCook, the vice-president of the doctors group says the organization “support[s] Measure 11 to attempt to save the approximately 97 percent of the babies who would otherwise be killed by abortions done for reasons other than rape, incest and life-threatening maternal conditions."
Two Sioux Falls-based doctors also said last week they support Measure 11 and they said they didn’t share the views of the Campaign for Healthy Families, which has said the abortion ban would limit or adversely impact doctors and their medical practices.
“Within the accepted standard of practice for OBGYN, I don’t find any part of Measure 11 to countermand anything I’m going to do in my life for my patients, ever,” Dr. Jane Gaetze said.
Another physician, Dr. Yvonne Seger, added, "I support Measure 11 because I want to stop abortion from being used as birth control in the state of South Dakota."
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