Social Work Opposes Monster Abortion Ban

Last night, the North Carolina Legislature overrode the Governor’s veto of the monster abortion ban (Senate Bill 20) by a narrow margin. This dangerous bill passed in both chambers along party lines just two weeks after the legislation was quickly revealed to the public. SB20 is a monster abortion ban that bans abortion after 12 weeks of pregnancy in most circumstances and makes it harder to get an abortion across the board, including early in pregnancy.

NASW opposes government restrictions designed to limit access to reproductive health services, including abortion services.

What this dangerous law will do as of July 1, 2023:

Medication Abortion Barriers: this law is a 10-week ban on medication abortion. Senate Bill 20 puts in place more barriers to medication abortion and cuts access by a week. Patients seeking a medication abortion will be required to come in person to a clinic THREE times for care that the FDA has said can be safely provided via telehealth.

Require Unnecessary Hospital Visits: this law is a 12-week ban on in-office abortion procedures. Under Senate Bill 20, any abortion after 12 weeks of pregnancy must occur in a hospital. Forcing people to have abortions in hospitals feeds into the misinformation surrounding what abortion care actually is. Abortion is overwhelmingly safe and can be safely done at clinics. 20 counties in North Carolina do not have a hospital. A hospital visit will cost more for the patient than a visit to an abortion clinic, creating an additional financial barrier for many patients.

This monster abortion ban will result in people being forced to carry a pregnancy and give birth against their will. It will lead to people being turned away when they need life-saving care. It will lead to people being forced to travel long distances for time-sensitive, essential health care.

Reproductive health and abortion access will always be a social work issue! This ban on abortion will especially harm people who live in rural areas, people working to make ends meet, and people who historically lack access to affordable health care, like people of color, young people, and people who are LGBTQ.

The NASW Code of Ethics states that “social workers respect and promote the right of clients to self-determination and assist clients in their efforts to identify and clarify their goals”. Self-determination related to reproductive health means that without government interference or reproductive coercion by an intimate partner, friend, family member, or professional, people should make their own decisions about sexual activity and reproduction.

This law is a damaging setback for North Carolina. Abortion is healthcare, abortion is essential to our society’s collective health and well-being. We will continue our long-standing advocacy for reproductive freedom.

Above photo featuring NASW-NC member Lynne Walter and Pro-Choice NC Advocacy and Organizing Manager taken by News and Observer photographer Travis Long.