South Carolina’s six-week abortion ban doesn’t even allow exceptions for mental health emergencies

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In a decision that has been in the works since the fall of Roe vs Wade Last June, the South Carolina State Senate passed an abortion ban, Senate Bill 474, the Fetal Heartbeat and Protection from Abortion Act, which goes into effect whenever a fetal heartbeat is audible, often six weeks after the abortion conception is the case, CNN reported.

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There aren’t many exceptions to the ban, except for cases of rape and incest, which are only considered up to 12 weeks gestation — and doctors performing an abortion procedure must report these cases to the local sheriff for legal protection guarantee.

Other exceptions are fetal health abnormalities or physical emergencies that could endanger the life of the birthing person. Mental emergencies such as B. Suicidal thoughts resulting from a forced pregnancy that may have resulted from trauma are not covered by the exemptions.

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Pregnant women may feel unsafe when they come forward or when doctors report their assault or incest and may choose not to have an abortion. This trauma alone can lead to mental illness or worsen existing mental health problems.

The bill also uses fetal personality language to oblige biological fathers to pay child support from conception and to separate the fetus from the person carrying it in the event of a medical emergency. This means that if abortion is medically necessary in an emergency, doctors are required to go to the same lengths to save the life of the fetus as they do to save the mother. Accordingly abortion every day Author Jessica Valenti: “Ordering doctors to ‘disconnect’ a woman from her pregnancy – rather than ordering her a normal abortion – means women will be forced into labor or cesarean sections, even though that will be far more common.” physically and emotionally draining.”

But as Valenti points out, the pregnant South Carolina woman’s mental health doesn’t matter.

COLUMBIA, UNITED STATES - 08/30/2022: Protesters hold signs in front of the South Carolina Statehouse as lawmakers debate an abortion ban.  Pro-women, pro-choice and pro-abortion protesters rallied after the South Carolina House of Representatives pushed through a near-total abortion ban with exceptions on rape and incest for up to 12 weeks.  (Photo by Sean Rayford/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Photo: Sean Rayford/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

South Carolina isn’t the only southern state to recently introduce abortion restrictions.

After Roe vs Wade According to the Guttmacher Institute, 13 states, including Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas, implemented their trigger bans on abortions almost immediately on June 24, 2022. But in response, many states have enacted new abortion restrictions, including North Carolina’s 12-week abortion ban, which goes into effect on July 1, 2023. Florida also enacted a 6-week abortion ban last month.

Access to abortion is now nearly impossible in the South, and people in these states will depend on access to contraception and emergency contraception to avoid unplanned pregnancies.

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South Carolina’s six-week abortion ban doesn’t even allow exceptions for mental health emergencies

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