SC governor should order abortion clinics to close due to coronavirus, lawmakers say
South Carolina lawmakers and anti-abortion activists called for S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster to order clinics that perform abortions across the state to close because of the coronavirus.
During a virtual press conference Thursday, state Sen. Richard Cash and Reps. John McCravy and Stewart Jones, all Republicans, called abortions “elective procedures” that unnecessarily exposed patients and providers at the clinics to COVID-19.
“It is unacceptable, especially during this time when the governor has closed businesses and sent people home, families aren’t working right now, that abortions continue in South Carolina,” Jones, R-Laurens, said.
The lawmakers were joined by leadership from groups like Palmetto Family Council, South Carolina Citizens for Life and A Moment of Hope, a Christian Ministry that frequently protests at Columbia’s Planned Parenthood clinic whose president was recently criminally cited for breaking Columbia’s “stay at home” order to protest.
A spokeswoman with the South Carolina chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union called the effort “shameful.”
“They should prioritize addressing the crisis at hand instead of weaponizing it to deny access to health care,” said Ali Titus, spokesperson for the ACLU of South Carolina. “Government actions must be driven by science and public health, not politics.”
Lawmakers in favor of closing abortion clinics because of the coronavirus pointed toward S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster’s request last month for hospitals and surgical centers to halt elective procedures to free up bed space for coronavirus patients. Compliance with the governor’s request was voluntary and was not part of any executive order, the governor’s office confirmed Thursday.
As of Thursday evening, The State had not yet received a response from the governor’s office on what actions he plans to take regarding this letter, if any.
South Carolina currently has three abortion clinics across the state, Planned Parenthood centers in Charleston and Columbia and the Greenville Women’s Clinic.
McCravy, R-Greenwood, said other medical centers and hospitals complied with the governor’s request, which cost them a lot of money.
“One organization has thumbed their nose at our community and the governor, and that is Planned Parenthood,” McCravy said. “Every citizen should be disgusted at their failure to comply with the governor’s request.”
Cash, R-Anderson, said abortions fall into the category of elective procedures, and continuing to expose staff to “unnecessary risk,” of contracting COVID-19.
But the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Board of Obstetrics & Gynecology have said that abortion is an essential medical procedure, one that is time sensitive, Planned Parenthood South Atlantic Medical Director Katherine Farris said Thursday.
“Unlike some medical procedures, delays or additional barriers to receiving care can make it more difficult or even impossible for patients to access safe, legal abortion,” Farris said in a statement. “Right now every health care provider has a role to play, and Planned Parenthood is doing our part to conserve needed resources and to protect the health and safety of our patients and staff.”
Cash added that performing abortions takes up personal protective equipment, which hospitals across the country are desperately seeking more of. McCravy argued that abortion clinics should be told to send their personal protective equipment to hospitals caring for coronavirus patients.
Several other states, particularly those with conservative leadership, have used the coronavirus and the cancellation of elective procedures to sideline health care providers who provide abortions.
In Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott included abortion providers among a list of health care givers that would have to stop all procedures that were not “not immediately medically necessary.” Ohio Attorney General David Yost ordered two abortion clinics to stop performing procedures to conserve personal protective equipment in a letter. Mississippi and Kentucky followed their suit.
Other states, like New York, Virginia, Washington and Illinois, have taken steps to protect health care providers who perform abortions.
This story was originally published April 9, 2020 at 1:21 PM with the headline "SC governor should order abortion clinics to close due to coronavirus, lawmakers say."
