Judge blocks South Dakota 'informed consent' abortion law

Published: 2005-07-05

RAPID CITY, S.D. (CNS) -- A federal judge June 30 temporarily barred South Dakota from enforcing a new "informed consent" law that would require doctors to tell women seeking an abortion that abortion ends the life of a human being. U.S. District Judge Karen Schreier of Rapid City said the law forces "unconstitutional compelled speech" on doctors who may disagree with the state's view. She ruled in favor of a request by Planned Parenthood of Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota, which sought a temporary injunction against the law. A full hearing on Planned Parenthood's request for a permanent injunction against it is slated for October. A Planned Parenthood facility in Sioux Falls performs nearly all the abortions that are done in South Dakota.

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