2015 -- H 5648

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LC001443

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- INFORMED CONSENT FOR ABORTION

     Introduced By: Representatives MacBeth, Corvese, Fellela, Azzinaro, and McLaughlin

     Date Introduced: February 26, 2015

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Sections 23-4.7-3 and 23-4.7-7 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-4.7

entitled "Informed Consent for Abortion" are hereby amended to read as follows:

     23-4.7-3. Required disclosures. -- (a) Either the physician who is to perform the

abortion or his or her authorized agent or another physician or his or her authorized agent shall:

      (1) Inform the woman that she is pregnant and inform her of the estimated gestational

age of the fetus at the time of the disclosure.

      (2) Explain to the woman the medical nature of an abortion, including the probable

gestational age of the fetus at the time the abortion is to be performed.

      (3) Explain to the woman the medical or surgical procedure to be employed to perform

the abortion.

      (4) Explain to the woman all known material medical risks associated with the particular

abortion procedure to be employed. In the event a physician or his or her authorized agent

determines that the disclosure of a known material risk should not be made, that risk need not be

disclosed, provided the medical basis for the nondisclosure is certified in writing in the patient's

medical record.

      (b) In addition, a physician or his or her authorized agent may inform the woman of any

other material facts or opinions or otherwise state anything with respect to the disclosures

required in this section which, in the exercise of his or her best medical judgment, is reasonably

necessary to enable the woman to give her informed consent to the proposed abortion, with full

knowledge of its nature and consequences.

     (c) In addition, prior to a woman giving informed consent to having any part of an

abortion performed, the physician who is to perform the abortion, or certified technician working

in conjunction with the physician, shall:

     (1) Perform an obstetric ultrasound on the pregnant woman;

     (2) Offer an explanation of the results of the ultrasound;

     (3) Display the ultrasound images so that the pregnant woman may view them;

     (4) Provide a medical description of the ultrasound images, which shall include the

dimensions of the embryo or fetus and the presence of external members and internal organs, if

present and viewable; and

     (5) Provide an opportunity for the woman to refuse to consent to the abortion.

     (d) No requirement to view ultrasound images.- Nothing in this section shall be construed

to require a woman to view the ultrasound images. Neither the physician nor the woman shall be

subject to any penalty if she refuses to look at the presented ultrasound images.

     23-4.7-7. Liability of physician. -- Any physician who knowingly violates the

requirements of this chapter shall be deemed to have engaged in "unprofessional conduct" for the

purposes of § 5-37-5.1. The willful failure to provide the woman with the substance of the

information pursuant to the requirements of § 23-4.7-3 shall be prima facie evidence of failure to

obtain informed consent in an action at law or in equity, and shall be sanctioned as follows:

     Upon a finding by a court that a physician in an action commenced under this chapter has

knowingly violated a provision of this chapter; the court shall notify the Rhode Island board of

medical review.

     A civil penalty not to exceed one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) for the first

offense shall be imposed; the penalty for a second and/or subsequent offense shall not exceed the

sum of two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000).

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- INFORMED CONSENT FOR ABORTION

***

     This act would require that an ultrasound fetal image be made of every fetus about to be

aborted for review by the woman seeking the abortion, and would add language which makes it

clear that a woman can refuse to view the images.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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