Minnesota-based Planned Parenthood North Central States is marking the two-year anniversary of the Dobbs decision by decrying the reproductive health care landscape in the Upper Midwest.
South Dakota, which is located in the organization's region, has a near total abortion ban.
The CEO of Planned Parenthood North Central States said the organization is increasing its capacity with expansions of facilities across Minnesota, Omaha, Nebraska and Des Moines, Iowa. The organization’s region also covers North and South Dakota.
Ruth Richardson said in a roundtable on Zoom states with abortion restrictions are seeing higher rates of maternal and infant mortality, rising STI’s and growing health care deserts.
“To be clear, access to health care shouldn’t be dictated by your zip code, your race or ethnicity, gender identity, disability or socio-economic status,” Richardson said. “That is why Planned Parenthood is committed to building healthcare that meets the intersectional needs of communities that are facing the most significant barriers to care. Like our Black, indigenous, low-income and rural communities, and our LBGTQ+ neighbors.”
The rate of pregnancy-associated deaths in South Dakota have steadily increased since 2015, adult syphilis cases have increased by 90 percent since 2021, and over half of South Dakota counties are considered maternal health care deserts.
But Planned Parenthood is stopping short of supporting a ballot question to restore abortion access in South Dakota. The group is joining the ACLU of South Dakota in not supporting the amendment because of the way the amendment is drafted. Planned Parenthood officials has said they don’t believe Amendment G will “adequately reinstate" abortion rights in South Dakota.
The language is enough for Dr. Marvin Buehner, an OBGYN who’s practiced women’s health care in western South Dakota for over 30 years.
He said Amendment G allows abortion access at a level most Americans are comfortable with.
“If we want to end these wars over abortion, we’re going to have to compromise a little bit,” Buehner said. “I think that this language is consistent with what most voters are comfortable with and also protects women’s right to make health care decisions in the vast majority of cases.”
Amendment G establishes rights to abortion in the first and second trimesters of pregnancy. It allows the state to prohibit abortion in the third trimester, except if abortion is necessary to preserve the life or health of the pregnant woman.
Anti-abortion rights groups call the measure too extreme.
The question will appear on the November ballot. It’s currently being challenged in court.
