South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster (R) signed a law on Thursday banning most abortions in the state.
Driving the news: Planned Parenthood filed a lawsuit in response to this, effectively stopping 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 a dozen other states that have passed similar legislation in recent years.
Details: The South Carolina Fetal Heartbeat and Protection from Abortion Act requires doctors to check for a heartbeat in the fetus.
- If a heartbeat is detected – which usually occurs between six and eight weeks after conception – an abortion can only be continued if the pregnancy was the result of rape or incest, or if the pregnant woman’s life is in danger.
- In the case of rape or incest, doctors offering the procedure are required to report the crime to local law enforcement.
- A pregnant person wouldn’t be punished for having an illegal abortion, but anyone who performs the surgery could be charged with a felony, sentenced to two years in prison, and a $ 10,000 fine if found guilty.
Yes but: Opponents say many people do not know they are pregnant, even after six to eight weeks.
The big picture, via AP: “All bans passed by other states are involved in legal proceedings.”
- Proponents of banned abortion measures are working to get the matter to the Supreme Court, hoping that the judges would vote to overturn Roe v. Wade.
- The Supreme Court previously ruled that abortions are legal until a fetus is viable outside the womb – months after a heartbeat can be detected.
Go deeper: Life after Roe v. Wade