A former Planned Parenthood abortionist turned pro-life OB/GYN is calling out the media for their false narrative surrounding abortion and new pro-life laws in South Dakota. Biased news outlets across the country are publishing stories claiming abortion restrictions will endanger the lives of mothers, but they refuse to face the facts and hear from pro-life doctors and experts. 

“Publications tout the myth that mothers are no longer protected in a post-Roe world and that states’ trigger laws will not allow doctors to help women with ectopic pregnancies and other life-threatening conditions,” Dr. Patti Giebink explained. “This is a blatant lie.” (emphasis added)

Giebink attempted to publish a rebuttal of an article that appeared in South Dakota Searchlight, which made a barrage of false claims surrounding new pro-life laws that limit abortion in the state. Two other local publications rejected the article as well. So, with her 30 years of experience in obstetrics, she turned to The Federalist to clarify the reality of pro-life legislation and medical facts related to pregnancy and abortion.

The primary argument presented by the author of the piece, a business reporter for South Dakota Searchlight, and a family physician she interviewed for the piece, was that abortion restrictions ignore the welfare of mothers and put their lives in danger – specifically regarding ectopic pregnancies, which is when a fertilized egg grows outside of the uterus, usually in the fallopian tubes. This condition can be life-threatening for the mother and usually leads to miscarriage early on in the pregnancy. 

“Treating ectopic pregnancies is not the same thing as getting an abortion; even Planned Parenthood admitted as much on its website,” Giebink countered. “Ectopic pregnancies threaten the life of a mother, and it’s extremely rare that babies survive these pregnancies. Abortion in South Dakota[‘s] law refers to the elective termination of an unborn human life, for no other reason than the mother’s choice. This does not refer to the premature separation of the preborn life due to any life-threatening medical condition of the mother.”

The media wants to paint the picture that South Dakota’s laws and laws in other Republican-led states don’t protect mothers, and legislators are attempting to sell that same narrative. They want to dramatically change our laws. As they paint a false picture, it is important to remember that doctors in South Dakota will not be prosecuted for working to save the life of the mother. This fact is clear.

“Corporate media are not our friends,” Giebink said. “They rarely portray the truth and are hardly interested in publishing the other side of the story. Don’t believe their lies about mothers not being protected — the life of the mother will always be a doctor’s first priority.” (emphasis added)