As of yesterday, doctors in South Dakota must advise patients seeking abortions of the increased risk of suicidal thoughts and actions that come with it. Obviously contested, we’re told by Planned Parenthood CEO Sarah Stoesz that the statue would “burden abortion rights and violate physicians’ First Amendment right to be free from compelling speech.”
The court acknowledged “medical and scientific uncertainty” about the link between abortion and suicide, but said that because the link has not been ruled out, advising about an “increased risk” is not constitutionally misleading and would be relevant to a patient’s decision.
“The bottom line is that women don’t turn to politicians for advice about mammograms, prenatal care, or cancer treatments,” said Sarah Stoesz, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota in a statement. “Politicians should not be involved in a woman’s personal medical decisions about her pregnancy.”
More here .
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