Roe v. Wade Confusion
The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade stirred up a lot of anxiety and fear among the women of America. With all the hype and exaggeration, it can be challenging to understand what the ruling actually means. Information is the best way to fight fear.
Ultimately, the court’s decision did not ban abortion across the country. Instead, it returned the power to individual states to set limits on abortion within their state. Now, lawmakers in North Carolina are able to establish abortion laws based on the votes of the citizens they represent.
North Carolina’s Abortion Law
In North Carolina, abortion is legal until a woman’s 12th week of pregnancy. A woman that is considering obtaining an abortion in North Carolina should be aware of regulations surrounding the procedure, including:
- Women under the age of 18 must have consent for an abortion from their parent/guardian or obtain a waiver from a court.
- Abortion will not be performed on the basis of gender preference.
- Women must be given medical assistance information.
- Before the abortion procedure, an ultrasound must be performed and available for the woman to see.
- At least 72 hours before an abortion is performed, a woman must give her voluntary and informed consent.
- Anytime before or during the procedure, a woman may withdraw her consent if she changes her mind.
- Women are provided information regarding medical assistance for continued care (should they continue with the pregnancy).
Exceptions in Life-Saving Situations
In rare situations a woman’s health can be jeopardized by her pregnancy. In emergencies, where she will need to seek medical help to end her pregnancy after the 12-week limit, North Carolina has provided safety nets built into the law to allow abortions. Similarly, if a minor in North Carolina needs an emergency abortion to save her life, she does not need parental consent.