South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem Threatens Charges For Prescribing Abortion Pills

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, together with the state’s Republican lawyer normal, mentioned Tuesday the state will prosecute pharmacists who dispense abortion-inducing tablets following a current Meals and Drug Administration rule change that broadens entry to the tablets.

The Republican governor and South Dakota Lawyer Normal Marty Jackley launched a letter to South Dakota pharmacists saying they’re “topic to felony prosecution” in the event that they procure or dispense abortion-inducing medication. The state bans all abortions besides to save lots of the lifetime of the pregnant individual.

“South Dakota will proceed to implement all legal guidelines together with people who respect and defend the lives of the unborn,” Noem and Jackley mentioned within the letter.

The FDA earlier this month formally up to date labeling for abortion tablets to permit many extra retail pharmacies to dispense them, as long as they full a certification course of.

The change might broaden entry at on-line pharmacies. Folks can get a prescription through telehealth session with a well being skilled after which obtain the tablets by means of the mail, the place permitted by regulation.

Nonetheless, in states like South Dakota, the rule change’s influence has been blunted by legal guidelines limiting abortion broadly and the tablets particularly. Authorized consultants foresee years of court docket battles over entry to the tablets as abortion-rights proponents convey check instances to problem state restrictions.