Introduced Version






HOUSE BILL No. 1172

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DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL



Citations Affected: IC 16-34-2-1.1.

Synopsis: Information on pain and anesthetic for a fetus. Provides that informed consent to an abortion includes the requirement that a physician inform a pregnant woman that: (1) a fetus may feel pain; (2) an anesthetic or other painkilling medication may be provided during an abortion to a fetus with a probable gestational age of at least 20 weeks; and (3) insurance may or may not cover the service.

Effective: July 1, 2006.





Harris T




    January 9, 2006, read first time and referred to Committee on Public Policy and Veterans Affairs.







Introduced

Second Regular Session 114th General Assembly (2006)


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HOUSE BILL No. 1172



    A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning health.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:

SOURCE: IC 16-34-2-1.1; (06)IN1172.1.1. -->     SECTION 1. IC 16-34-2-1.1, AS AMENDED BY P.L.36-2005, SECTION 1, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2006]: Sec. 1.1. (a) An abortion shall not be performed except with the voluntary and informed consent of the pregnant woman upon whom the abortion is to be performed. Except in the case of a medical emergency, consent to an abortion is voluntary and informed only if the following conditions are met:
        (1) At least eighteen (18) hours before the abortion and in the presence of the pregnant woman, the physician who is to perform the abortion, the referring physician or a physician assistant (as defined in IC 25-27.5-2-10), an advanced practice nurse (as defined in IC 25-23-1-1(b)), or a midwife (as defined in IC 34-18-2-19) to whom the responsibility has been delegated by the physician who is to perform the abortion or the referring physician has orally informed the pregnant woman of the following:
            (A) The name of the physician performing the abortion.
            (B) The nature of the proposed procedure or treatment.
            (C) The risks of and alternatives to the procedure or treatment.
            (D) The probable gestational age of the fetus, including an offer to provide:
                (i) a picture or drawing of a fetus;
                (ii) the dimensions of a fetus; and
                (iii) relevant information on the potential survival of an unborn fetus;
            at this stage of development.
            (E) The medical risks associated with carrying the fetus to term.
            (F) The availability of fetal ultrasound imaging and auscultation of fetal heart tone services to enable the pregnant woman to view the image and hear the heartbeat of the fetus and how to obtain access to these services.
             (G) The:
                (i) fetus may feel pain; and
                (ii) option of providing during an abortion an anesthetic or other painkilling medication to a fetus that has a probable gestational age of at least twenty (20) weeks and that this service may or may not be covered by insurance.

        (2) At least eighteen (18) hours before the abortion, the pregnant woman will be orally informed of the following:
            (A) That medical assistance benefits may be available for prenatal care, childbirth, and neonatal care from the county office of family and children.
            (B) That the father of the unborn fetus is legally required to assist in the support of the child. In the case of rape, the information required under this clause may be omitted.
            (C) That adoption alternatives are available and that adoptive parents may legally pay the costs of prenatal care, childbirth, and neonatal care.
        (3) The pregnant woman certifies in writing, before the abortion is performed, that the information required by subdivisions (1) and (2) has been provided.
    (b) Before an abortion is performed, the pregnant woman may, upon the pregnant woman's request, view the fetal ultrasound imaging and hear the auscultation of the fetal heart tone if the fetal heart tone is audible.