South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster (R) signed a bill on Thursday banning most abortions in the state.
Driving the news: Planned Parenthood filed a lawsuit in response, effectively blocking the measure from taking effect.
- The House passed the bill by 79-35 votes on Wednesday, and gave final approval in a second vote on Thursday.
- South Carolina joins about a dozen other states that have passed similar legislation in recent years.
Details: The “South Carolina Fetal Heartbeat and Abortion Protection Act” requires doctors to check the fetus for a heartbeat.
- If a heartbeat is detected – which usually occurs between six and eight weeks after conception – an abortion can be performed only if the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest, or if the life of the pregnant person is in danger.
- In cases of rape or incest, doctors offering the procedure are required to report the crime to local authorities.
- A pregnant person would not be punished for having an illegal abortion, but whoever performs the operation can be charged with a crime, sentenced to up to two years in prison and fined $ 10,000 if found guilty.
Yes but: Opponents say that many people do not know they are pregnant even after the six to eight week mark.
The big picture, via AP: “All prohibitions approved by other states are linked to legal challenges”.
- Proponents of prohibitive abortion measures are working to bring the issue to the Supreme Court in the hope that judges will vote to overthrow Roe v. Wade.
- The Supreme Court previously ruled that abortion is legal until a fetus is viable outside the womb – months after the heartbeat can be observed.
Go deeper: Life after Roe v. Wade