Summary
The North Carolina Woman’s Right to Know Act, H.B. 854, was enacted in July 2011. The law requires “a twenty-four-hour waiting period and the informed consent of a pregnant woman before an abortion may be performed.”
To make sure mothers are fully informed, the law requires an obstetric ultrasound examination and for any mother who desires it an opportunity to view the ultrasound and an explanation of it four to 72 hours “before the administration of any anesthesia or medication in preparation for the abortion on the woman.” Mothers are not required to look at the baby’s image, listen to the baby’s heartbeat, or listen to the doctor’s explanations if they do not wish to, but the opportunity must be offered to them.
ADF and allied attorneys represented several medical doctors, post-abortive women, and pregnancy resource centers who wish to intervene in the lawsuit to defend the right of women to be given all of the information they need to make an informed decision regarding pregnancy. That motion was denied. However, ADF allied attorneys continue to represent concerned North Carolinians in defending the law through amicus briefs in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
“Giving mothers the information they need before such a life-changing and potentially devastating decision is clearly more important than an abortionist’s bottom line,” said ADF Senior Counsel Steven H. Aden. “Those attacking this law are obviously more concerned about financial gain from abortion than the best interests of mothers and their children in the womb.”
What’s at stake
Protecting the right of mothers to see an ultrasound image of their baby in the womb before making the life-altering decision whether to have an abortion.
Our role in this case
Alliance Defending Freedom allied attorneys supported the North Carolina Attorney General with affidavits of medical experts supporting the legislation, and filed amicus briefs in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit on behalf of concerned North Carolinians.
