Bill > S0623

This bill, known as "The South Carolina Human Heartbeat Protection Act," mandates that before a physician or allied health professional can perform or induce an abortion, they must conduct an abdominal ultrasound to detect a fetal heartbeat. If a heartbeat is detected, the pregnant woman must be informed in writing that a heartbeat was found, given the statistical probability of the fetus reaching full term based on its gestational age, and told that an abortion is prohibited under this law. Abortions are prohibited if a fetal heartbeat is detected after the twelfth week of pregnancy, with violations leading to the revocation of the physician's medical license. The State Board of Medical Examiners will establish regulations for the ultrasound procedure, define the statistical probability of a fetus reaching term, and define "highly lethal fetal condition or abnormality." Exemptions to this prohibition include abortions performed to preserve the woman's life or health, when no fetal heartbeat is detected, in cases of rape or incest, or in a medical emergency, which is defined as a condition necessitating an immediate abortion to avert death or serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function, or a highly lethal fetal disorder. The bill clarifies that it does not criminalize or penalize the woman upon whom an abortion is performed or attempted, nor does it prohibit the use of contraceptives.