Indiana Bill Regarding Written Informed Consent Materials (SB 101)

SB 101 would have amended the brochure requirements in Indiana’s informed consent law (Indiana Code § 16-34-2-1.5) to require the state to develop written materials to be provided to a pregnant woman. The bill would have required the state to minimize the cost of developing these materials and would have allowed the state department to charge a provider who requests the materials the cost of printing and distributing the materials.

The bill  also would have required  that the provider include specified information on the back cover of the written materials, including the name of the physician performing the abortion and the physician’s medical license number, an emergency contact number for the physician, and a statement that follow-up care is available.

The bill also specifies font and formatting for the written materials, and requires the materials to be labeled “A Woman’s Right to Know.”

The bill would have required that specific scientific information be included in the written materials, including information regarding the growth of the fetus at various gestational ages, the medical risks associated with abortion, the medical risks of carrying a fetus to term, information regarding the parental consent process, and information regarding the availability of adoption.

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