North Carolina Women and Children’s Protection Act (S 604)

S 604 would require the Department of Health and Human Services to annually inspect all abortion clinics, including ambulatory surgical facilities.  No clinic would be able to employ a person under the age of 18.  Certified clinics would be required to have a written agreement between the clinic and a hospital for the hospital to accept the transfer of patients who are in need of emergency care.

Physician Reporting Requirements

A physician who advises, procures, or causes a miscarriage or abortion after the 16th week of a woman’s pregnancy would be required to report the following information to the Department of Health and Human Services:

• the method used by the physician to determine the probable gestational age of the unborn child at the time the procedure is to be performed;
• the results of the methodology, including the measurements of the unborn child; and
• an ultrasound image of the unborn child that depicts the measurements.

A physician who procures or causes a miscarriage or abortion after the 20th week of a woman’s pregnancy would be required to record and report the findings and analysis on which they based the determination and continuance of the pregnancy would have threatened the life or gravely impaired the health of the woman.

The Department of Health and Human Services would be required to prescribe and collect statistical summary reports once a year concerning the medical and demographic characteristics of abortions provided from all clinics and ambulatory surgical centers.

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