In North Carolina, people are trying to discern the implications of overturning Roe v. Wade just as they are in the other 49 states. If you wonder how this ruling will affect abortion access and women’s rights in our state, keep reading.
What Does Overturning Roe v. Wade Mean?
In 1973, the Supreme Court ruled that abortion access was a federally protected right. They argued the privacy clause of the U.S. Constitution protected abortion rights.
The current Supreme Court found that this argument lacked credibility. As a result, they overturned Roe v. Wade as a federally protected right.
The individual states, including North Carolina, now have the authority to restrict or protect abortion access.
How Does This Impact North Carolina?
North Carolina is unaffected by the overturning of Roe v. Wade because it already had state laws protecting access to abortion up to the point of viability, which is about 20 weeks gestational age. The only exception is if the pregnancy endangers the life or health of a woman.
Are Other Rights or Healthcare Access Impacted?
With the overturning of Roe, some people are concerned that other rights currently federally protected will be overturned as well.
However, even in states with rigid restrictions on abortions, like Texas, the statutes make exceptions for pregnancy-related health conditions such as ectopic pregnancies or miscarriages. There is no indication that states will deny women any rights or life-saving healthcare.
What’s Next
If you are considering an abortion, scheduling a free and confidential pregnancy test and ultrasound is the first step to give you more information on your options.
An ultrasound can confirm the gestational age and location of the pregnancy and verify whether or not you are at risk of an ectopic pregnancy.
Our clinic offers free pregnancy services and consultation appointments where you can ask questions in a pressure-free environment.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment!