What defines a heartbeat? Judge hears arguments in South Carolina abortion case

Release time：2024-05-03 07:50:04 Source：Stellar Storyline news portal

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina’s ban on abortions after roughly six weeks, before many women know they are pregnant, returned to court Thursday with Planned Parenthood and the state arguing over what could be two different ways to define a heartbeat in the law.

Even the state Supreme Court justices who upheld the new law in August noted there appeared to be two definitions of “fetal heartbeat” ending the window in which someone could seek an abortion. They wrote that question would be “for another day.”

That day arrived Thursday, as Circuit Judge Daniel Coble considered Planned Parenthood’s request to block the new law until courts could decide in their suit over the definitions and the state’s request to throw out the lawsuit. He said he will try to rule in a few weeks. No matter what Coble decides, his ruling will face months, if not years, of appeals.

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