AN ACT
ENTITLED, An Act to require that a doctor provide a woman additional information as a part of
informed consent prior to performing an abortion.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA:
Section 1. That § 34-23A-10.1 be amended to read:
34-23A-10.1. No abortion may be performed unless the physician first obtains a voluntary and informed written consent of the pregnant woman upon whom the physician intends to perform the abortion, unless the physician determines that obtaining an informed consent is impossible due to a medical emergency and further determines that delaying in performing the procedure until an informed consent can be obtained from the pregnant woman or her next of kin in accordance with chapter 34-12C is impossible due to the medical emergency, which determinations shall then be documented in the medical records of the patient. A consent to an abortion is not voluntary and informed, unless, in addition to any other information that must be disclosed under the common law doctrine, the physician provides that pregnant woman with the following information:
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA:
Section 1. That § 34-23A-10.1 be amended to read:
34-23A-10.1. No abortion may be performed unless the physician first obtains a voluntary and informed written consent of the pregnant woman upon whom the physician intends to perform the abortion, unless the physician determines that obtaining an informed consent is impossible due to a medical emergency and further determines that delaying in performing the procedure until an informed consent can be obtained from the pregnant woman or her next of kin in accordance with chapter 34-12C is impossible due to the medical emergency, which determinations shall then be documented in the medical records of the patient. A consent to an abortion is not voluntary and informed, unless, in addition to any other information that must be disclosed under the common law doctrine, the physician provides that pregnant woman with the following information:
(1) A statement in writing providing the following information:
(a) The name of the physician who will perform the abortion;
(b) That the abortion will terminate the life of a whole, separate, unique, living human
being;
(c) That the pregnant woman has an existing relationship with that unborn human
being and that the relationship enjoys protection under the United States
Constitution and under the laws of South Dakota;
(d) That by having an abortion, her existing relationship and her existing constitutional
rights with regards to that relationship will be terminated;
(e) A description of all known medical risks of the procedure and statistically
significant risk factors to which the pregnant woman would be subjected,
including:
(i) Depression and related psychological distress;
(ii) Increased risk of suicide ideation and suicide;
(iii) A statement setting forth an accurate rate of deaths due to abortions,
including all deaths in which the abortion procedure was a substantial
contributing factor;
(iv) All other known medical risks to the physical health of the woman,
including the risk of infection, hemorrhage, danger to subsequent
pregnancies, and infertility;
(f) The probable gestational age of the unborn child at the time the abortion is to be
performed, and a scientifically accurate statement describing the development of
the unborn child at that age;
(g) The statistically significant medical risks associated with carrying her child to term
compared to undergoing an induced abortion;
(h) That even after a pregnant mother takes Mifepristone it is still possible to
discontinue a drug-induced abortion by not taking the prescribed Misoprostol; and
(i) That information on discontinuing a drug-induced abortion is available on the
Department of Health website.
The disclosures set forth above shall be provided to the pregnant woman in writing and
in person no later than two hours before the procedure is to be performed. The physician
shall ensure that the pregnant woman signs each page of the written disclosure with the
certification that she has read and understands all of the disclosures, prior to the patient
signing a consent for the procedure. If the pregnant woman asks for a clarification or
explanation of any particular disclosure, or asks any other question about a matter of
significance to her, the explanation or answer shall be made in writing and be given to the
pregnant woman before signing a consent for the procedure and shall be made part of the
permanent medical record of the patient;
(2) A statement by telephone or in person, by the physician who is to perform the abortion,
or by the referring physician, or by an agent of both, at least twenty-four hours before the
abortion, providing the following information:
(a) That medical assistance benefits may be available for prenatal care, childbirth, and
neonatal care;
(b) That the father of the unborn child is legally responsible to provide financial
support for her child following birth, and that this legal obligation of the father
exists in all instances, even in instances in which the father has offered to pay for
the abortion;
(c) The name, address, and telephone number of a pregnancy help center in reasonable
proximity of the abortion facility where the abortion will be performed; and
(d) That she has a right to review all of the material and information described in § 34-23A-1, §§ 34-23A-1.2 to 34-23A-1.7, inclusive, § 34-23A-10.1, and § 34-23A-10.3, as well as the printed materials described in § 34-23A-10.3, and the website
described in § 34-23A-10.4. The physician or the physician's agent shall inform the
pregnant woman, orally or in writing, that the materials have been provided by the
State of South Dakota at no charge to the pregnant woman. If the pregnant woman
indicates, at any time, that she wants to review any of the materials described, such
disclosures shall be either given to her at least twenty-four hours before the
abortion or mailed to her at least seventy-two hours before the abortion by certified
mail, restricted delivery to addressee, which means the postal employee can only
deliver the mail to the addressee;
(3) A written statement that sex-selective abortions are illegal in the State of South Dakota
and that a pregnant mother cannot have an abortion, either solely or partly, due to the
unborn child's sex, regardless of whether that unborn child is a girl or a boy or whether
it is of the pregnant mother's free will or the result of the use of pressure and coercion.
Prior to the pregnant woman signing a consent to the abortion, she shall sign a written statement
that indicates that the requirements of this section have been complied with. Prior to the performance
of the abortion, the physician who is to perform the abortion shall receive a copy of the written
disclosure documents required by this section, and shall certify in writing that all of the information
described in those subdivisions has been provided to the pregnant woman, that the physician is, to
the best of his or her ability, satisfied that the pregnant woman has read the materials which are
required to be disclosed, and that the physician believes she understands the information imparted.
Section 2. That § 34-23A-10.4 be amended to read:
34-23A-10.4. The Department of Health shall, by January 1, 2004, develop and maintain a multi-media website that contains web pages covering each of the following topics:
Section 2. That § 34-23A-10.4 be amended to read:
34-23A-10.4. The Department of Health shall, by January 1, 2004, develop and maintain a multi-media website that contains web pages covering each of the following topics:
(1) Embryonic and fetal development at various gestational stages;
(a) Anatomical and physiological characteristics; and
(b) Survival possibilities of the unborn child;
(2) Abortion methods commonly used for each trimester of pregnancy;
(3) Statistically significant abortion method risks, including infection, hemorrhage, danger
to subsequent pregnancies, and infertility;
(4) Important pre-abortion procedures;
(a) Confirmation of pregnancy via sonogram; and
(b) Counseling and discussion of medical history to detect possible abortion risks;
(5) Post-abortion psychological and emotional complications;
(6) Parental notification as required by 34-23A-7;
(7) Assistance, benefits, and services:
(a) Names and contact information of public and private agencies; and
(b) Types and availability of public medical benefits and services;
(8) Responsibility of the father of the unborn child;
(9) Statistically significant pregnancy risks;
(10) Adoption options:
(a) Names and contact information of public and private agencies; and
(b) Description of services;
(11) Information on discontinuing a drug-induced abortion.
The state shall collect and maintain web statistics regarding the website developed and
maintained pursuant to this section. However, no personal information may be collected.
An Act to require that a doctor provide a woman additional information as a part of informed consent prior to performing an abortion.
An Act to require that a doctor provide a woman additional information as a part of informed consent prior to performing an abortion.
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I certify that the attached Act originated in the
HOUSE as Bill No. 1157
____________________________
Chief Clerk ____________________________
Speaker of the House
Attest:
____________________________
Chief Clerk
____________________________
Attest:
____________________________
Secretary of the Senate
House Bill No. 1157 File No. ____ Chapter No. ______ |
Received at this Executive Office this _____ day of _____________ ,
20____ at ____________ M.
By _________________________
for the Governor
The attached Act is hereby
approved this ________ day of
______________ , A.D., 20___
____________________________
Governor STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA, ss.
Office of the Secretary of State
Filed ____________ , 20___
____________________________ Secretary of State
By _________________________ |
