SW News: The US state of South Carolina’s Senate voted to minimize the exemptions for cases of rape and incest from the proposed abortion ban. Following two days of heated discussion between anti-abortion Republicans and more moderate lawmakers from both parties, the South Carolina Senate on Thursday ratified a bill tightening an abortion ban blocked by the top court in the state.

The Senate passed a bill limiting exclusions for rape and incest to the first trimester of pregnancy rather than the current law's 20 weeks. In addition, the proposal would allow abortions if a terminal prognosis was made for the fetus, much like the current ban does. However, it would require two doctors' diagnoses, not just one, like the law that is currently being blocked.

Before they were removed, the bill also contained exclusions for rape and incest-related pregnancies. In these cases, the doctor had to inform the victim that the rape would be reported and her name would be handed to the authorities within 24 hours of the incident. Additionally, in some circumstances, the law would only have permitted abortions up to 12 weeks after fertilization.

The proposal also stated that the father must cover half of the pregnancy's costs, including her portion of the insurance premiums, and the plan also stipulates that child support payments begin at the time of conception. The complete expense of mental counseling related to the assault must also be covered by the father of a child conceived by rape or incest.

Abortions are now prohibited in South Carolina after heart activity in a fetus is found, which typically occurs at around six weeks. However, the state Supreme Court has suspended that statute while it investigates whether it infringes on the state's constitutional right to privacy. So that leaves South Carolina's older 20-week abortion ban as the current benchmark.

Following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision on June 24 to reverse its landmark 1973 decision Roe v. Wade, which secured a nationwide right to abortion, South Carolina is one among 25 U.S. states that have either curbed abortions or are in the process of doing so.