A Review of the S.C. Dept. of Health and Environmental Control's Regulation of Abortion Clinics
May 2015
Members of the General Assembly requested that we conduct an audit to determine if the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) properly regulates abortion clinics, as required by state law and regulation.
Our audit objectives were to:
- Determine how DHEC regulates abortion clinics to ensure that the facilities are in compliance with state law and regulation.
- Identify improvements which can be implemented in policy, regulation, or state law regarding the regulation of abortion clinics.
Currently, there are three licensed abortion clinics in South Carolina. DHEC is required by law to inspect each clinic annually. In 2014, there were a total of 5,640 abortions at these three clinics, which represents 99% of all abortions in the state.