In Republican-led states across the U.S., conservative legislators are refusing to reevaluate abortion bans — even as doctors and patients insist the laws’ exceptions are dangerously unclear, resulting in denied treatment to some pregnant women in need.
Instead, GOP leaders accuse abortion rights advocates of deliberately spreading misinformation and doctors of intentionally denying services in an effort to undercut the bans and make a political point. At the same time, however, some states are taking steps that they say will provide more clarity about when abortions can be legally performed.
The Republican-controlled South Dakota Legislature wants to create a video in which medical experts — and the state’s attorneys — would explain to doctors and patients when abortions can be legally performed. The measure was passed last month and is now awaiting the signature of Republican Gov. Kristi Noem, who has indicated she will sign it.
Ohio has tightly gerrymandered GOP controlled legislature (even ruled illegal by the Ohio Supreme court which the GOP just ignores) and a GOP governor. After both kept ratcheting up the bans on abortion (including a “hearbeat” law), Ohio voters put a ballot measure up to amend the state Constitution and it passed easily. Ohio now has a state Constitutional amendment guaranteeing reproductive freedom.
That’s the only language the GOP understands.