North Carolina House proposes to extend abortion wait to 72 hours
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- Another abortion bill is making the rounds and waves at the state legislature.
House Bill 465 would do two things: 1) require doctors to report all abortions after 20 weeks to DHHS, and 2) triple the waiting period between when a woman goes in for a consultation and then has an abortion to 72 hours.
Twenty-six states require a waiting period. Most require 24 hours. Only three states have 72-hour waiting periods.
Supporters of the bill say it's important to give women time to think about such an important decision.
Critics say the bill would restrict a woman's options - at least, for an extra two days. Current state law requires a 24-hour waiting period.
"It's demeaning to assume that women haven't already thought about their decision before they make the call to their doctor to make an appointment for an abortion," said Planned Parenthood's Melissa Reed. "Women make important health decisions every day of their lives and, quite frankly, we do not need arbitrary delays put in our way."
However, supporters say the bill would help women think through their options.
"These women need resources," said Mary O'Shea, with First Choice Pregnancy Solutions. "This is a big decision and when you're under crisis, you feel like you've got to get out of it right away. Most of these women want to make a quick decision and get it over with and usually the decisions that we regret most in our lives are those that we make impulsively."
Tami Fitzgerald agrees. She heads up the conservative North Carolina Values Coalition and has spent years pushing for tighter abortion regulations.
"I think it's great. Giving women more time on a decision as important as abortion is good," said Fitzgerald.
"Time" is something Melissa Reed says she wishes she had more of - specifically time to speak to lawmakers.
Wednesday morning, a committee voting on the bill heard from almost all supporters and cut off public comment before Reed and other critics could speak.
"When you are dealing with an issue that is so volatile and so controversial," Reed said, "it is vital for our legislators who are making these decisions to hear from both sides."
