The full Eighth Circuit Court in St. Louis is going to consider the constitutionality of a South Dakota law that requires doctors read the following script to women seeking an abortion: Abortion "terminate the life of a whole, separate, unique, living human being." This is on top of requirements to recite various statistics regarding post-abortion depression and suicide, "the legal relationship between a mother and a fetus" and, the article says, "a dozen other statements."

All of that being piled upon a woman who is getting an abortion. Every surgical procedure has its effects upon a person's body and mind, especially during the recovery period. That's one of the many things cast doubt upon any causal relationship between abortion and depression/suicide. It seems, though, that the South Dakota Legislature has decided to do everything they can to induce feelings of depression in women who have an abortion.

How loving and pro-life of them to force doctors to shame their patients with propaganda way more suited to soothe the Legislature's conscience than have any real effect upon the issue of abortion in this country. And of course, all this self-righteous emotional abuse comes without even one finger lifted in order to help a woman - or a child - struggling to live a minimally decent life.

Would that a law could be passed to shame the legislators every time they propose nonsense like this.

| | Permalink