A bill aimed at providing clarity to doctors regarding the "life of the mother" provision in South Dakota's abortion law has passed its first hurdle with a bipartisan 11-1 vote in the House State Affairs Committee. The bill, known as HB 1224, was sponsored by Rep. Taylor Rehfeldt (R), Rep. Joh Hansen (R), and Rep. Oren Lesmeister (D).

HB 1224 seeks to create a training video and materials that will educate doctors and hospitals throughout the state on the ability and necessity of providing emergency care to pregnant women under South Dakota's life at conception law. The Department of Health, along with input from the attorney general, medical professionals, and legal experts, will be responsible for establishing the materials.

The training video will cover various aspects, including the state's abortion law, the most common medical conditions that pose a threat to the life or health of a pregnant woman, the standards of care for treating a pregnant woman in a medical emergency, and a practitioner's ability to use reasonable medical judgment in all situations.

Kelsey Pritchard, the state public affairs director for SBA Pro-Life America, expressed gratitude towards Rep. Taylor Rehfeldt for introducing the legislation. Pritchard emphasized the importance of debunking the false allegation spread by abortion activists that pregnant women in states with pro-life laws cannot receive emergency care. She stated, "The South Dakota Med Ed Bill is a model for how states around the country should protect the health of moms."

The South Dakota Med Ed Bill is the first of its kind and aims to address the confusion caused by the abortion industry through direct education to medical professionals. While other states have taken administrative steps to clarify their "life of the mother" provisions, South Dakota is leading the way in providing comprehensive education to doctors.

The bill has received support from Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, a network of over one million pro-life Americans nationwide. The organization is dedicated to ending abortion by electing national leaders and advocating for laws that save lives, with a particular focus on promoting pro-life women leaders.

The passage of the South Dakota Med Ed Bill in the House State Affairs Committee marks an important step towards ensuring that pregnant women in the state receive timely and appropriate care in the event of a medical emergency. By addressing misinformation and providing clear guidelines for medical professionals, this legislation serves as a model for other states to protect the health of mothers and uphold the sanctity of life.