NC Abortion Law—Effective 7/1/23

• Abortion is legal in NC through 12 weeks, through 20 weeks in cases of rape or incest, and through 24 weeks if physicians detect a life-limited anomaly. Thereafter, abortion is legal only in cases of a medical emergency.
• Only a licensed medical doctor or physician may perform an abortion in a hospital or clinic that has a license to perform abortions.
• Abortions are prohibited for the purpose of sex or race selection and Down Syndrome.
• Under the age of eighteen, written informed consent is required by one parent or the approval of a judge.
• A husband or boyfriend cannot interfere with a woman’s decision to abort or not.
• State-directed counseling is required with a 72-hour waiting period before the abortion is performed.
• A patient must undergo an ultrasound before obtaining an abortion and cannot be denied to see the ultrasound.
• The first pill for chemical abortion must be administered in the presence of a prescribing physician.
• Health plans offered under the Affordable Care Act can only cover abortion in cases of life endangerment, rape, or incest.
• Public funding is only available in cases of life endangerment, rape, or incest.
• Healthcare providers have conscience protections and cannot be forced to assist in an abortion.