N.C. House Votes to Triple Mandatory Waiting Time for Abortion Care
ACLU Says Mandatory 72-Hour Waiting Period for Abortion Care Insults Women’s Ability to Make Their Own Health Care Decisions
RALEIGH – The North Carolina House of Representatives today voted to triple the state’s mandatory waiting period for women seeking abortion care to 72 hours. House Bill 465 now goes to the Senate. If the bill becomes law, North Carolina would become the fourth state in the nation – along with Missouri, South Dakota, and Utah – to require a waiting period of 72 hours.
“Instead of respecting a woman’s private medical decisions, this shameful bill is based on the condescending notion that a woman can’t or won’t take the time she needs to consult with her doctor and make the best decision for her own circumstances,” said Sarah Preston, Policy Director for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of North Carolina. “In medical situations, there is never a one-size-fits-all solution. The government has no business interfering in health care decisions made by a woman and her doctor and making what can be a difficult situation even more challenging.”
Studies have shown that abortion is one of the safest medical procedures available. According to a 2014 report from the Guttmacher Institute, less than 0.05% of abortions result in complications requiring hospital care.
About the ACLU of North Carolina:
The ACLU of North Carolina is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to preserving and expanding the guarantees of individual liberty found in the United States and North Carolina Constitutions and related federal and state civil rights laws. With more than 12,000 members and supporters throughout the state and an office located in Raleigh, the organization achieves its mission through advocacy, public education, community outreach, and when necessary, litigation. Visit acluofnc.org for more information.
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