South Dakota and abortion
For anyone who did not actually see the new anti-abortion South Dakota law, I have it below.
The South Dakota legislature has determined that “life” begins at conception and bases its reasoning on scientific advances since Roe v. Wade. We already know that the “life” question has been chipped away since Roe and now this is the case that will most likely be the test case for the Supreme Court.
When Alito and Roberts were being confirmed, I was terrified about how easy they both got through. And now, within months of their entrance to the bench of SCOTUS, they may be handed one of the biggest decisions of our time.
George W. Bush selected these men and despite any evidence of decisions we had from these two men (which was fucking very little), we have to remember who selected them. George W. Bush. The man who is trying everything he can to bring this country back to a Revolutionary War era society (with technology and more debt and disaster).
Is it possible that one man can create so much of a downhill spiral for this country in 6 short years. Most people would have thought it unheard of.
Enough about Bush, I digress.
The foundation of women’s right to choose as far as the Supreme Court is considered is the “penumbra” of the right to privacy as carefully found in the First Amendment. For those people out there who are strict constructionists, think for a second how scary it would be if we didn’t have a “right to privacy” on any level. (i.e. wiretapping by the federal government.)
This is not about abortion. This is not about an argument between when a life is a life and when terminating a pregnancy is “murder.” It is about the right of privacy, the right of a woman to choose what she can do to her body and what she can’t.
How many women do we all know that say “I am pro-choice, but I don’t think I could ever have an abortion.”??? It is the point of the matter. This case will mean so much more than just abortion.
Will all birth control be next? What about women who are raped? Victims of domestic violence? Incest? Are there any considerations for the woman?
I can’t even begin….
Sigh.
Here’s the text of the bill. Read it and come to your own conclusions.
FOR AN ACT ENTITLED, An Act to establish certain legislative findings, to reinstate the prohibition against certain acts causing the termination of an unborn human life, to prescribe a penalty therefor, and to provide for the implementation of such provisions under certain circumstances.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA:
Section 1. The Legislature accepts and concurs with the conclusion of the South Dakota Task Force to Study Abortion, based upon written materials, scientific studies, and testimony of witnesses presented to the task force, that life begins at the time of conception, a conclusion confirmed by scientific advances since the 1973 decision of Roe v. Wade, including the fact that each human being is totally unique immediately at fertilization. Moreover, the Legislature finds, based upon the conclusions of the South Dakota Task Force to Study Abortion, and in recognition of the technological advances and medical experience and body of knowledge about abortions produced and made available since the 1973 decision of Roe v. Wade, that to fully protect the rights, interests, and health of the pregnant mother, the rights, interest, and life of her unborn child, and the mother's fundamental natural intrinsic right to a relationship with her child, abortions in South Dakota should be prohibited.
Section 2. That chapter 22-17 be amended by adding thereto a NEW SECTION to read as follows:
No person may knowingly administer to, prescribe for, or procure for, or sell to any pregnant woman any medicine, drug, or other substance with the specific intent of causing or abetting the termination of the life of an unborn human being. No person may knowingly use or employ any instrument or procedure upon a pregnant woman with the specific intent of causing or abetting the termination of the life of an unborn human being.
Any violation of this section is a Class 5 felony.
Section 3. That chapter 22-17 be amended by adding thereto a NEW SECTION to read as follows:
Nothing in section 2 of this Act may be construed to prohibit the sale, use, prescription, or administration of a contraceptive measure, drug or chemical, if it is administered prior to the time when a pregnancy could be determined through conventional medical testing and if the contraceptive measure is sold, used, prescribed, or administered in accordance with manufacturer instructions.
Section 4. That chapter 22-17 be amended by adding thereto a NEW SECTION to read as follows:
No licensed physician who performs a medical procedure designed or intended to prevent the death of a pregnant mother is guilty of violating section 2 of this Act. However, the physician shall make reasonable medical efforts under the circumstances to preserve both the life of the mother and the life of her unborn child in a manner consistent with conventional medical practice.
Medical treatment provided to the mother by a licensed physician which results in the accidental or unintentional injury or death to the unborn child is not a violation of this statute.
Nothing in this Act may be construed to subject the pregnant mother upon whom any abortion is performed or attempted to any criminal conviction and penalty.
Section 5. That chapter 22-17 be amended by adding thereto a NEW SECTION to read as follows:
Terms used in this Act mean:
(1) "Pregnant," the human female reproductive condition, of having a living unborn human being within her body throughout the entire embryonic and fetal ages of the unborn child from fertilization to full gestation and child birth;
(2) "Unborn human being," an individual living member of the species, homo sapiens, throughout the entire embryonic and fetal ages of the unborn child from fertilization to full gestation and childbirth;
(3) "Fertilization," that point in time when a male human sperm penetrates the zona pellucida of a female human ovum.
Section 6. That § 34-23A-2 be repealed.
34-23A-2. An abortion may be performed in this state only if it is performed in compliance with § 34-23A-3, 34-23A-4, or 34-23A-5.
Section 7. That § 34-23A-3 be repealed.
34-23A-3. An abortion may be performed by a physician during the first twelve weeks of pregnancy. The abortion decision and its effectuation must be left to the medical judgment of the pregnant woman's attending physician during the first twelve weeks of pregnancy.
Section 8. That § 34-23A-4 be repealed.
34-23A-4. An abortion may be performed following the twelfth week of pregnancy and through the twenty-fourth week of pregnancy by a physician only in a hospital licensed under the provisions of chapter 34-12 or in a hospital operated by the United States, this state, or any department, agency, or political subdivision of either or in the case of hospital facilities not being available, in the licensed physician's medical clinic or office of practice subject to the requirements of § 34-23A-6.
Section 9. That § 34-23A-5 be repealed.
34-23A-5. An abortion may be performed following the twenty-fourth week of pregnancy by a physician only in a hospital authorized under § 34-23A-4 and only if there is appropriate and reasonable medical judgment that performance of an abortion is necessary to preserve the life or health of the mother.
Section 10. If any court of law enjoins, suspends, or delays the implementation of a provision of this Act, the provisions of sections 6 to 9, inclusive, of this Act are similarly enjoined, suspended, or delayed during such injunction, suspension, or delayed implementation.
Section 11. If any court of law finds any provision of this Act to be unconstitutional, the other provisions of this Act are severable. If any court of law finds the provisions of this Act to be entirely or substantially unconstitutional, the provisions of § § 34-23A-2, 34-23A-3, 34-23A- 4, and 34-23A-5, as of June 30, 2006, are immediately reeffective.
Section 12. This Act shall be known, and may be cited, as the Women's Health and Human Life Protection Act.
The South Dakota legislature has determined that “life” begins at conception and bases its reasoning on scientific advances since Roe v. Wade. We already know that the “life” question has been chipped away since Roe and now this is the case that will most likely be the test case for the Supreme Court.
When Alito and Roberts were being confirmed, I was terrified about how easy they both got through. And now, within months of their entrance to the bench of SCOTUS, they may be handed one of the biggest decisions of our time.
George W. Bush selected these men and despite any evidence of decisions we had from these two men (which was fucking very little), we have to remember who selected them. George W. Bush. The man who is trying everything he can to bring this country back to a Revolutionary War era society (with technology and more debt and disaster).
Is it possible that one man can create so much of a downhill spiral for this country in 6 short years. Most people would have thought it unheard of.
Enough about Bush, I digress.
The foundation of women’s right to choose as far as the Supreme Court is considered is the “penumbra” of the right to privacy as carefully found in the First Amendment. For those people out there who are strict constructionists, think for a second how scary it would be if we didn’t have a “right to privacy” on any level. (i.e. wiretapping by the federal government.)
This is not about abortion. This is not about an argument between when a life is a life and when terminating a pregnancy is “murder.” It is about the right of privacy, the right of a woman to choose what she can do to her body and what she can’t.
How many women do we all know that say “I am pro-choice, but I don’t think I could ever have an abortion.”??? It is the point of the matter. This case will mean so much more than just abortion.
Will all birth control be next? What about women who are raped? Victims of domestic violence? Incest? Are there any considerations for the woman?
I can’t even begin….
Sigh.
Here’s the text of the bill. Read it and come to your own conclusions.
FOR AN ACT ENTITLED, An Act to establish certain legislative findings, to reinstate the prohibition against certain acts causing the termination of an unborn human life, to prescribe a penalty therefor, and to provide for the implementation of such provisions under certain circumstances.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA:
Section 1. The Legislature accepts and concurs with the conclusion of the South Dakota Task Force to Study Abortion, based upon written materials, scientific studies, and testimony of witnesses presented to the task force, that life begins at the time of conception, a conclusion confirmed by scientific advances since the 1973 decision of Roe v. Wade, including the fact that each human being is totally unique immediately at fertilization. Moreover, the Legislature finds, based upon the conclusions of the South Dakota Task Force to Study Abortion, and in recognition of the technological advances and medical experience and body of knowledge about abortions produced and made available since the 1973 decision of Roe v. Wade, that to fully protect the rights, interests, and health of the pregnant mother, the rights, interest, and life of her unborn child, and the mother's fundamental natural intrinsic right to a relationship with her child, abortions in South Dakota should be prohibited.
Section 2. That chapter 22-17 be amended by adding thereto a NEW SECTION to read as follows:
No person may knowingly administer to, prescribe for, or procure for, or sell to any pregnant woman any medicine, drug, or other substance with the specific intent of causing or abetting the termination of the life of an unborn human being. No person may knowingly use or employ any instrument or procedure upon a pregnant woman with the specific intent of causing or abetting the termination of the life of an unborn human being.
Any violation of this section is a Class 5 felony.
Section 3. That chapter 22-17 be amended by adding thereto a NEW SECTION to read as follows:
Nothing in section 2 of this Act may be construed to prohibit the sale, use, prescription, or administration of a contraceptive measure, drug or chemical, if it is administered prior to the time when a pregnancy could be determined through conventional medical testing and if the contraceptive measure is sold, used, prescribed, or administered in accordance with manufacturer instructions.
Section 4. That chapter 22-17 be amended by adding thereto a NEW SECTION to read as follows:
No licensed physician who performs a medical procedure designed or intended to prevent the death of a pregnant mother is guilty of violating section 2 of this Act. However, the physician shall make reasonable medical efforts under the circumstances to preserve both the life of the mother and the life of her unborn child in a manner consistent with conventional medical practice.
Medical treatment provided to the mother by a licensed physician which results in the accidental or unintentional injury or death to the unborn child is not a violation of this statute.
Nothing in this Act may be construed to subject the pregnant mother upon whom any abortion is performed or attempted to any criminal conviction and penalty.
Section 5. That chapter 22-17 be amended by adding thereto a NEW SECTION to read as follows:
Terms used in this Act mean:
(1) "Pregnant," the human female reproductive condition, of having a living unborn human being within her body throughout the entire embryonic and fetal ages of the unborn child from fertilization to full gestation and child birth;
(2) "Unborn human being," an individual living member of the species, homo sapiens, throughout the entire embryonic and fetal ages of the unborn child from fertilization to full gestation and childbirth;
(3) "Fertilization," that point in time when a male human sperm penetrates the zona pellucida of a female human ovum.
Section 6. That § 34-23A-2 be repealed.
34-23A-2. An abortion may be performed in this state only if it is performed in compliance with § 34-23A-3, 34-23A-4, or 34-23A-5.
Section 7. That § 34-23A-3 be repealed.
34-23A-3. An abortion may be performed by a physician during the first twelve weeks of pregnancy. The abortion decision and its effectuation must be left to the medical judgment of the pregnant woman's attending physician during the first twelve weeks of pregnancy.
Section 8. That § 34-23A-4 be repealed.
34-23A-4. An abortion may be performed following the twelfth week of pregnancy and through the twenty-fourth week of pregnancy by a physician only in a hospital licensed under the provisions of chapter 34-12 or in a hospital operated by the United States, this state, or any department, agency, or political subdivision of either or in the case of hospital facilities not being available, in the licensed physician's medical clinic or office of practice subject to the requirements of § 34-23A-6.
Section 9. That § 34-23A-5 be repealed.
34-23A-5. An abortion may be performed following the twenty-fourth week of pregnancy by a physician only in a hospital authorized under § 34-23A-4 and only if there is appropriate and reasonable medical judgment that performance of an abortion is necessary to preserve the life or health of the mother.
Section 10. If any court of law enjoins, suspends, or delays the implementation of a provision of this Act, the provisions of sections 6 to 9, inclusive, of this Act are similarly enjoined, suspended, or delayed during such injunction, suspension, or delayed implementation.
Section 11. If any court of law finds any provision of this Act to be unconstitutional, the other provisions of this Act are severable. If any court of law finds the provisions of this Act to be entirely or substantially unconstitutional, the provisions of § § 34-23A-2, 34-23A-3, 34-23A- 4, and 34-23A-5, as of June 30, 2006, are immediately reeffective.
Section 12. This Act shall be known, and may be cited, as the Women's Health and Human Life Protection Act.
posted by Holly | 3:32 PM
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