USA: Grade D Nation

South Carolina is currently working on passing a bill that will require any woman seeking an abortion to view an ultrasound of the fetus and sign a document saying she saw it. Only two U.S. states have legislation which guarantees that women's birth control perscriptions will be filled despite self-righteous pharmacists. In 2006, South Dakota, (like fourteen other states with similar legislation) banned abortion altogether. Other states have various parental consent laws, mandatory waiting periods or coercive counseling sessions, denial of insurance coverage, extremely limited clinic access, and severe restrictions on which health care professionals are permitted to perform abortions. Overall, NARAL: Pro-Choice America gives the United States a grade of "D" when it comes to legislation for reproductive choices. To see how your state measures up, check out their State Report Cards page.


(Cartoon by Stephanie McMillan: www.minimumsecurity.net)