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Planned Parenthood South Atlantic v. State of South Carolina I

Description:  Planned Parenthood is challenging South Carolina’s pro-life law that protects unborn children from the moment a heartbeat is detected.


A mother holding a baby
Friday, Oct 7, 2022

The following quote may be attributed to Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel and Director of the ADF Center for Life Denise Harle regarding a friend-of-the-court brief ADF attorneys filed Thursday with the South Carolina Supreme Court in Planned Parenthood South Atlantic v. State of South Carolina on behalf of the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists and Dr. Christine Hemphill, a South Carolina OBGYN, in support of the state’s law which protects unborn children from abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected:

“All human life is worth protecting—from conception to natural death. The OBGYNs we represent have a strong interest in preserving the life and health of unborn children and their mothers and upholding their oath to ‘do no harm.’ As we explain in our brief, South Carolina’s pro-life law relies on sound medical science and statistical evidence, which shows that a detectable fetal heartbeat reliably and overwhelmingly predicts a healthy live birth. With Roe’s overturn, South Carolina is eager to affirm life and prevent the obvious harms that abortion causes women and their children. The Fetal Heartbeat Act does just that by protecting the most vulnerable South Carolinians.”

ADF attorneys are working in 10 other states to defend pro-life laws, including Arizona, Iowa, Michigan, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Texas, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

  • Pronunciation guide: Harle (HAR’-lee)

Alliance Defending Freedom is an alliance-building, non-profit legal organization committed to protecting religious freedom, free speech, parental rights, and the sanctity of life.

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