New Ultrasound Law
COLUMBIA, S.C. (Wednesday, May 14, 2008) Governor Mark Sanford signed the Ultrasound Act into law today meaning that abortionists must immediately begin informing women they have a right to view the image of their unborn child before an abortion can be performed.
This legislation revises the prerequisites for the performance of an abortion by providing that, if an ultrasound is performed, an abortion may not be performed sooner than one hour following the completion of theultrasound. The physician who is to perform the abortion or an allied health professional working in conjunction with the physician must inform the woman before the ultrasound procedure of her right to view the ultrasound image at her request during or after the ultrasound procedure.
South Carolina becomes the 18th state with legislation giving the mother the option to view the ultrasound of her unborn child before an abortion; however only South Carolina and Oklahoma require a one-hour waiting period between the time the ultrasound is performed and the abortion is scheduled.
(In South Carolina an ultrasound is mandatory if the baby's gestational age is estimated to be 14 weeks or older or is unknown, according to state regulations. The ultrasound remains optional before 14 weeks of pregnancy. In all cases the woman must be informed of her right to view the image of her unborn child.)
