PIERRE, S.D. (AP) _ PLANNED PARENTHOOD HAS FILED A LAWSUIT
CHALLENGING A SOUTH DAKOTA LAW THAT WOULD REQUIRE WOMEN SEEKING
ABORTIONS TO WAIT THREE DAYS AND UNDERGO COUNSELING AT PREGNANCY
HELP CENTERS THAT DISCOURAGE ABORTION.
     THE THREE-DAY WAITING PERIOD WOULD BE THE NATION’S LONGEST.
     THE NEW LAW IS SCHEDULED TO TAKE EFFECT JULY 1. PLANNED
PARENTHOOD ARGUES IT IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL BECAUSE IT VIOLATES A
WOMAN’S RIGHT TO GET AN ABORTION. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO CONTENDS
THE LAW VIOLATES FREE-SPEECH RIGHTS OF WOMEN AND DOCTORS AND
INTERFERES WITH WOMEN’S PRIVACY.
     SUPPORTERS SAY THE LAW IS NEEDED TO MAKE SURE WOMEN ARE NOT
COERCED INTO HAVING ABORTIONS.
     THE LAW SAYS AN ABORTION COULD ONLY BE SCHEDULED 72 HOURS AFTER
A WOMAN MEETS WITH A DOCTOR. SHE WOULD HAVE TO GET COUNSELING AT A
CENTER THAT DISCOURAGES ABORTION.