
Culture & Conversation Religion
This law was last updated on Aug 18, 2014
HB 1166
Current
Jan 27, 2005
Supporteds: 1
Primary Sponsors: 67
Total Sponsors: 68
HB 1166 prohibits a physician from performing an abortion without the voluntary and informed consent of the woman upon whom the physician intends to perform the abortion. Except in cases of medical emergency, consent is voluntary and informed if the physician provides the following information in writing:
These disclosures must be provided in writing two hours before the abortion.
The law also requires the physician to provide a statement in person or on the telephone that contains the following information:
This information must be provided at least 24 hours before the abortion.
Prior to signing a written consent for the abortion, the pregnant woman must sign a written statement indicating that all of the provisions of this law have been complied with. In addition, the physician who is going to perform the abortion must certify in writing that all required materials have been provided to the pregnant woman and that the physician is satisfied that the woman has read the materials.
Studies show that the claim that abortion increases the risk of mental health problems is false. Claims to the contrary are based on anecdotal evidence rather than scientific studies. According to the Guttmacher Institute, “[t]he evidence and the observable reality of 40 years of legal abortion in the United States do not comport with the idea that having an abortion is any more dangerous to a woman’s long-term mental health than delivering and parenting a child that she did not intend to have or placing a baby for adoption.”
STATUS
This law was challenged and upheld as constitutional. (See Planned Parenthood v. Rounds.)
Supported
Primary Sponsor