‘Personhood Act of South Carolina’ (S 485)

S 485 would amend state law to define “personhood” as beginning at the moment of fertilization.

The bill states that “[t]he right to life for each born and preborn human being vests at fertilization,” and that “[t]he rights guaranteed by Article I, Section 3 of the Constitution of this State, that no person shall be deprived of life without due process of law, nor shall any person be denied the equal protection of the laws, vest at fertilization for each born and preborn human being.”

The bill clarifies that this law would not prohibit contraception, or prohibit in vitro fertilization or assisted reproductive technology.

The bill further clarifies that the law would not prohibit a physician from performing a medical procedure designed to prevent the death of the pregnant person. If an abortion is performed, the physician would be required to make reasonable medical efforts under the circumstances to preserve both the life of the patient and the life of the “preborn human being.”

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Related Legislation

Companion bill to H 3289.

Similar to H 3920.

Similar to H 353/S 217, S 129, H 3584, H 3323, S 83, S 87, and S 457; all of which failed to pass in previous legislative sessions.

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Latest Action

2/6/19 – Introduced.

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People