N.C. senate bill to extend abortion waiting period ‘demeans’ women and their decision making skills

The North Carolina senate initially approved of a bill aiming to extend the waiting period for abortion to 72 hours. The final decision to approve or disapprove such bill would take place in the coming week.

A bill to extend the waiting period of abortion to 72 hours has been proposed in a Senate discussion on Thursday, May 28. The N.C. Senate initially approved of the proposed bill and the final decision will be discussed next week.

The bill proposes that a woman needs to consult with a medical professional before undergoing such procedure during the 72-hour waiting period. It also proposes that only an obstetrician or gynecologist is allowed to perform abortion in the state of North Carolina, News & Record reported.

Huffington Post cited that this new bill defies the guidelines set by the World Health Organization (WHO) in performing abortion. The organization recently released the guideline that any woman who wishes to undergo abortion must be promptly provided with the said procedure.

WHO issued a statement saying that abortion services must be given without a delay and without "mandatory waiting periods." The organization also cited that such waiting periods also "jeopardize women's ability to access safe, legal abortion services and demeans women as competent decision-makers."

Republican senator Joyce Krawiec defended the bill and likened it to the waiting periods set when writing a contract to sell a house or refinancing a car. Sen. Krawiec also said that she has talked to a number of women who have undergone abortion in the past, for which majority of them allegedly regret their decisions.

"One of the most common things that I hear is, 'I didn't have time to make a decision. I was rushed," said Sen. Krawiec.

Sen. Krawiec also said that such important decisions in life always call for a time to reflect and doing so will also help her in her pledge to save and protect every life.