Maryland Abortion Reporting Requirements (SB 420)

SB 420 would require certain physicians who perform abortions or certain hospitals, facilities, and institutions in which an abortion is performed, to report the abortion to the Maryland Department of Health.

Abortion reports would need to include the following information:

• The county and state of residence of the patient;
• The age, race, and marital status of the patient;
• The estimated gestational age of the fetus at the time of the abortion;
• The month during which the abortion was performed; and
• The method of abortion.

The bill would allow—but not explicitly require—abortion reports to include the primary reason provided by the patient for the abortion, including:

• Rape;
• Incest;
• Financial hardship;
• Educational concerns;
• Lack of resources;
• Physical or mental infirmity;
• Serious fetal deformity;
• Pressure from others;
• Ill-timed pregnancy; and
• Abandonment by partner or family.

The report should not include any information that may be used to identify the patient or physician who performed the abortion.

A physician who performs an abortion an fails to submit an abortion report would be subject to disciplinary action.

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Related Legislation

Companion bill to HB 630.

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Latest Action

2/1/19 – Introduced; referred to Senate Finance Committee.

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