COUNTERPOINT | Abortion accountability needed in South Dakota, not passive ideology

Guest column by Patricia Shiery, Justice for the Voiceless

In a March 1, 2026, opinion column written by Mr. Fred Deutsch regarding House Bill 1212 – a piece of legislation that was defeated during this winter’s legislative session – the Florence Republican stated it was “a proposal to criminalize women,” and suggested that HB 1212 was rhetoric.

Let’s take a closer look at HB 1212 and see if this bill aligns with what Mr. Deutsch describes.

The first line of the bill reads, in part, “If the death of an individual, including an unborn child, is caused by a wrongful act, neglect, or default.”