Pill-Induced Abortion Four-Visit Rule Blocked in South Dakota

South Dakota lost its bid to enforce a new rule requiring people seeking pill-induced abortions to visit the state’s only abortion clinic four times, before and after taking the drugs, as it’s likely unconstitutional, a federal court said.

The rule’s addition of two visits to the two already required doesn’t serve the state’s goal of protecting abortion patients from alleged dangers presented by the two-drug regimen, the U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota said.

A medication abortion involves taking two drugs, mifepristone and misoprostol, at least 24 hours apart. It’s indicated for use during the earliest stage ...