Women exercising the right to choose in North Carolina may soon face additional obstacles.
House Bill 854 mandates additional requirements before women can receive an abortion. The bill would require that doctors provide counseling before performing an abortion, as well as a 24-hour waiting period, a state-verified ultrasound to be administered at least four hours before the procedure and written consent from an adult in the case of a minor.
State representatives Patricia McElraft, R-Cateret, Jones, and Ruth Samuelson, R-Mecklenburg, introduced the bill in early April. The bill was approved by the House appropriations committee May 19. The House could vote on the bill as early as Friday, Samuelson wrote in an email Tuesday.
“This bill doesn’t change abortion law—that is not our goal with this,” Samuelson said in an interview May 23. “This bill is meant to afford women the respect of giving them all the available information about this tough decision and trust that after that, they will be better able to make the best decision for themselves in the long term.”
According to a Civitas poll, 56 percent of North Carolinian voters are in support of this bill with 36 percent in opposition and 8 percent who either do not know or refuse to give an opinion.
Samuelson noted that there are 25 other states that impose a waiting period, which she said is partially to allow physicians to discover the signs of rape or incest and offer help if the woman does not want an abortion. She added that regional studies show that the bill is projected to prevent about 2,900 abortions per year. It is estimated that these births would cost $7 million, though the bill states that Medicaid will cover the cost of these births.
Opponents of the bill, however, are concerned that many women may not merit Medicaid coverage and that these requirements could become financial burdens. State representative Beverly Earle, D-Mecklenburg, said it is important to remember the stigma attached to Medicaid and the hesitation with which some women may or may not use it.
“If women don’t qualify for, or want to use, Medicaid then they must bear the burden for the cost of not only the ultrasound and procedure but also the travel and overnight stay costs,” Earle said. “There are many small towns in North Carolina that would not have the facilities for an abortion or ultrasound after 24 hours wait.”
Samuelson said, however, that the bill’s budget also includes the creation of a website detailing pregnancy counseling centers, so that women can find clinics in their vicinity.
This bill follows the recent provisions proposed for the state budget, which prevent Planned Parenthood from receiving state or federal grants, specifically for teen pregnancy prevention and women’s health. The provisions will also limit funding to the Department of Social Services.
“I do not understand the logic of reducing funding to important organizations that provide free birth control thus reducing access to it while making it harder to have an abortion,” she said.
State Representative Susan Fisher, D-Buncombe, said she believes this is a pro-life piece of legislation intended to pressure women into not having an abortion. She added that by forcing a woman to undergo counseling and verifying that she is receiving an ultrasound, invades her privacy and infringes upon doctor-patient confidentiality.
Fisher added that she believes the bill will deter women from going through the formal and regulated abortion process, pushing them to seek alternative abortion options, perhaps from individuals who are not qualified to perform the procedure—thus increasing health risks.
Samuelson added, however, that women will be informed the name of the doctor carrying out their procedures, medical liability, legal responsibilities of the father, probable gestation period and developments of fetus and the complications of not only abortions but the birthing process as well. Samuelson believes this information is necessary in the decision-making process.
If passed, the bill will become a standard for all health facilities in North Carolina that offer abortion services, including the Duke clinic.
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