Hawaii Prenatal Health Care Counseling (HB 2662)

HB 2662 would require medical professionals to provide pregnant women with information on where to obtain support if a test reveals that a pregnant woman’s “preborn child” is diagnosed or likely to be diagnosed with Down Syndrome or any other disorder amenable to prenatal diagnosis.

The bill would prohibit a physician from performing or inducing an abortion on a pregnant woman prenatally diagnosed with a child facing Down Syndrome or any other genetic abnormality until they have knowledge that the pregnant woman has received information about prenatal, neonatal, and long-term care resources available in the public and private domains. The bill allows for an exception if an abortion is necessary to save the life of the pregnant woman.

The Department of Health would be required to maintain an updated list of national and state resources focused on care beneficial to the life and well-being of a child that has been prenatally diagnosed with mental or physical disabilities.

Medical professionals would be required to maintain a record of counseling provided to pregnant women.

STATUS

Similar to HR 24 and HCR 54, House Resolutions that failed to pass in 2015.

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