Pro-life supporters are celebrating the South Carolina’s unanimous decision on Wednesday (May 14), when they ruled that the state may enforce its abortion ban beginning at about six weeks of pregnancy, rejecting Planned Parenthood South Atlantic’s challenge that sought enforcement at nine weeks.
The court concluded that while the law’s language referencing “fetal heartbeat” is medically vague, the legislative intent and prior statements by both lawmakers and abortion providers consistently aligned with a six-week threshold, reported the Associated Press.
Justice John Few noted that “not one instance” during the 2023 legislative session suggested a nine-week ban was intended, according to media reports.
Win for ‘right to life’
Gov. Henry McMaster celebrated the ruling as a win for the “right to life,” while Planned Parenthood decried it as harmful, citing risks to women’s health and the exodus of medical providers, local media reported.
Exceptions remain for rape or incest up to 12 weeks, and when a mother’s life is at risk. Legal challenges continue in federal court.
See related headlines:
South Carolina Supreme Court decides heartbeat definition allows six-week abortion ban -Associated Press
South Carolina Supreme Court rules to ban abortions after 6 weeks -WIS News 10
SC Supreme Court rules on when fetal heartbeat abortion restrictions begin – The State
SC Supreme Court upholds six-week abortion ban – The World and Everything in It
The links above are a sampling of headlines related to the story and are not an endorsement of all viewpoints or reporting.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was compiled from news reports by The Baptist Paper.
