The Real Reason for South Dakota’s Anti-Abortion ‘3-Day Wait’ Law
As we reported earlier, South Dakota’s conservative governor has just signed a bill mandating a 3-day wait for women who choose to have an abortion. The law says an abortion can only be scheduled by a doctor who has personally met with the woman, but then a 3-day wait is imposed, after which the same doctor must perform the procedure.
LGF reader elizajane points out a very important angle to this crazy bill, that makes it even worse than it appears at first glance — because there are no doctors who perform abortions in South Dakota. They have to be flown in from out of state for each consultation and each procedure.
Note the subtlety here. The doctor who performs the abortions in South Dakota must be flown in from out of state — because, as in so many places in the American heartland, no such doctor dares/wants to reside in that area. Under the new law that SAME doctor (not just any doctor, but the very one who will perform the abortion) must meet with the woman three days before the abortion is performed.
The result will be to at least double the cost of the operation, if the doctor can even manage to fly all that way twice in a week at all. Sioux Falls being not exactly close to any major metropolis.
Net result? Poor women are denied a choice, once again. Rich girls fly out of state. Good job, Republicans! Keep the poor poor. Barefoot and pregnant, that’s the way it should be.
Sorry, just losing my temper a tiny bit.
Frank says: