The Women’s Rights and Empowerment Network (WREN), along with a coalition of partners across South Carolina, has filed an amicus brief in support of Taylor Shelton, a South Carolina woman who was denied access to abortion care due to the state’s restrictive six-week abortion ban. The lawsuit, led by Shelton, Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, and Dr. Katherine Farris, challenges the enforceability of the ban, raising critical concerns about women’s access to timely healthcare.
Key points from the brief include:
- The six-week ban provides an extremely limited window for accessing abortion care, often allowing only a few days to a week for women to even realize they’re pregnant, let alone seek care.
- South Carolina’s existing challenges in women’s health services, including a shortage of OB/GYN providers, geographic barriers, and maternity care deserts, compound the difficulty of accessing care within the ban’s narrow timeframe.
- The ban disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, including minors, women of color, survivors of intimate partner violence and sexual assault, and people with disabilities, exacerbating existing healthcare inequalities and creating additional obstacles to accessing necessary care.
- The approximately three-week difference between a six-week ban and a ban after approximately nine weeks is crucial for ensuring South Carolinians’ right to bodily autonomy, improving health outcomes, and minimizing the economic and legal consequences of restrictive abortion laws.
“This case highlights the severe limitations the six-week abortion ban places on South Carolinians seeking essential healthcare,” said Ashley Lidow, Senior Director of Policy & Government Relations at WREN. “WREN is committed to advocating for reproductive freedom and ensuring that everyone can make informed decisions about their own body, free from unnecessary barriers.”
The Case: A Fight for Reproductive
Justice Taylor Shelton sought an abortion after her birth control failed, only to face insurmountable barriers due to South Carolina’s law banning abortions when a “fetal heartbeat” is detected—often as early as six weeks, which is before many people even know they are pregnant. Shelton was forced to travel out of state multiple times to receive care, underscoring the extreme difficulty in accessing timely reproductive healthcare within the state’s narrow legal window.
The lawsuit also highlights the ambiguity around the definition of “fetal heartbeat,” which creates confusion among healthcare providers and further delays or restricts care, disproportionately affecting many South Carolinians, particularly people of color, minors, and those in rural or underserved areas.
A Call for Reproductive Freedom
This amicus brief underscores WREN’s commitment to reproductive justice and its determination to dismantle barriers that prevent individuals from receiving necessary medical care. As seen in Taylor Shelton's case, the six-week ban restricts access to essential healthcare and forces many South Carolinians to travel out of state.
“This law places an undue burden on those who already face challenges in accessing healthcare,” said WREN CEO Dr. Amalia Luxardo. “It particularly impacts women of color, who have historically faced reproductive oppression — such as forced sterilizations — and continue to experience disparities in healthcare access. WREN and its partners will continue to fight for policies that ensure equitable access to healthcare for all, regardless of race, income, or geography.”
The brief also highlights the potential health risks and economic consequences of interpreting the law as a six-week ban. Studies show that denying abortion care can lead to worse health outcomes for individuals and poorer health and financial outcomes for mothers and children on a population level.
Conclusion
As the legal battle continues, WREN and its partners stand united in their commitment to reproductive freedom and the well-being of all South Carolinians. The coalition will continue to challenge this unjust law and work toward dismantling the structural inequalities that prevent equitable access to reproductive healthcare, ensuring every person in South Carolina can make informed decisions about their own future.
