SC House to consider 20-week abortion ban

SOUTH CAROLINA — The South Carolina House will consider a bill that would ban women  from getting an abortions at 20 weeks or later.

A similar ban was struck down in Arizona fueling speculation of what could happen if it's passed here.

Trudy Laub is the executive director at the Palmetto Pregnancy Center in York County.  She has worked with thousands of expecting mothers some excited, others unsure.  While Laub supports life and encourages women to keep their babies, her agency does provide information on abortions.
 
"We like our clients to receive information so they can make an informed decision about what they are doing with accurate good information," Laub said.
 
Soon, the South Carolina House will have to make a decision on a bill that would ban abortions at 20 weeks or later, unless it's necessary to save the mother's life.  Right now, women can abort up to 24 weeks.  But bill's sponsor said science shows babies can feel pain at 20 weeks and her goal is to protect them.
 
A federal appeals court struck down a similar ban in Arizona last year and the U.S. Supreme Court subsequently chose not to hear the case. Vicki Saporta, president of the National Abortion Federation, thinks South Carolina will suffer the same fate.

"South Carolina legislators shouldn't waste taxpayer dollars passing anti-choice bills that are clearly unconstitutional that jeopardize health and safety of women," Saporta said.
 
Laub is optimistic the bill will pass and that supporters are ready to fight.  "I'm sure they've investigated and have a plan ready if that should happen if it is appealed," she said.
 
The bill also would require physicians to determine the age of the fetus before performing an abortion,  plus report the woman's age, race and the method of abortion.  Doctors who disregard the ban could face a felony charge.

WSOC