COLOMBIA – Planned Parenthood temporarily suspended its abortion services in South Carolina after Governor Henry McMaster signed a law banning the procedure in most cases on February 18, while the organization waits for a federal judge to decide on the request to block the abortion. measure.
U.S. District Court Judge Mary Geiger Lewis is expected to hear arguments about the ban in the Columbia federal court at 1:00 pm on February 19, at which point she could temporarily issue an order overturning the law as more lawsuits unfold. long starts.
Planned Parenthood South Atlantic spokeswoman Molly Rivera said the organization hopes they can restart their abortion services in Columbia and Charleston this afternoon after the hearing. The clinics were already preparing for the possibility of the bill becoming law this week, Rivera added.
In the meantime, Rivera said her clinics still offer other reproductive health services, including birth control, tests and treatment for sexually transmitted infections and cancer tests. Rivera initially said the clinics would be closed before clarifying that only abortion services were stopped.
There is only one other abortion clinic in South Carolina, operated by the Greenville Women’s Clinic, which could not be reached immediately for comment.
The legislation, known to its supporters as the “fetal heartbeat” bill, prohibits abortion after about six to eight weeks of pregnancy. McMaster’s signature adds South Carolina to nearly a dozen other states that have passed similar bills, all of which have gone into court.
Doctors who break the law would be guilty of a crime, subject to a $ 10,000 fine and a maximum prison term of two years.
Dr. Katherine Farris, medical director of Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, said the law “will pose a serious threat to the health and bodily autonomy of Southern Carolinians.”
State Attorney General Alan Wilson said his office “will vigorously defend this law in court because there is nothing more important than protecting life”.
This story is developing. Check back for updates.
Follow Jamie Lovegrove on Twitter @jslovegrove.