Second Chance at Life Act of 2019 (H.R. 2010)

H.R. 2010 would require abortion providers who prescribe or administer the abortion pill to inform their patients that it may be possible to “reverse” the effects of medication abortion.

Except in cases of medical emergency, a chemical abortion involving the two drug process of dispensing mifepristone first and then misoprostol, may not be performed or induced or attempted to be performed or induced without the following:

• The pregnant person is informed at least 24 hours prior to the chemical abortion that:
  • it may be possible to “reverse” the intended effects of a chemical abortion utilizing mifepristone if the patient changes their mind; and
  • information on and assistance with “reversing” the effects of a chemical abortion utilizing mifepristone is available on the website of the Department of Health and Human Services.

After the first drug involved in the two drug process is dispensed in a chemical abortion utilizing mifepristone, the physician would need to provide written medical discharge instructions to the pregnant person which include the following statement:

Recent developing research has indicated that mifepristone alone is not always effective in ending a pregnancy. It may be possible to avoid, cease, or even to reverse the intended effects of a chemical abortion utilizing mifepristone if the second pill has not been taken. Please consult with a health care professional immediately.

The law would not apply to an abortion provider if the abortion is necessary to save the life of a patient whose life is endangered by a physical disorder, physical illness, or physical injury, including a life-endangering physical condition caused by or arising from the pregnancy itself.

TRAP – Sign Posting

Any private office, freestanding surgical outpatient clinic or other facility, or clinic in which chemical abortions, other than abortions necessary in the case of a medical emergency are performed, would be required to post a sign (in a location clearly visible to patients) which reads:

Recent developing research has indicated that mifepristone alone is not always effective in ending a pregnancy. It may be possible to avoid, cease, or even to reverse the intended effects of a chemical abortion utilizing mifepristone if the second pill has not been taken. Please consult with a health care professional immediately.

A private office or a freestanding surgical outpatient clinic would need to post the sign in each patient waiting room and patient consultation room used by patients on whom chemical abortions are performed. A hospital or any other facility that is not a private office or freestanding surgical outpatient clinic would need to post the required sign in each patient admission area used by patients on whom chemical abortions are performed.

Printed Information and Website

The bill would require the federal government to public materials designed to inform the patient of the possibility of “reversing” the effects of a chemical abortion utilizing mifepristone if they change their mind, and materials on the assistance and resources that may be available to help “reverse” the effects of a chemical abortion.

The bill would require the federal government to have a website providing the same information up and running 30 days after the law is enacted.

Latest Action

4/1/19 – Introduced; referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

People