HB 154: "An Act establishing a woman's right to know certain medical facts related to the woman's safety before an abortion is performed."
00HOUSE BILL NO. 154 01 "An Act establishing a woman's right to know certain medical facts related to 02 the woman's safety before an abortion is performed." 03 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 04 * Section 1. AS 18.16 is amended by adding a new section to read: 05 Sec. 18.16.020. A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO KNOW. (a) Except in the case 06 of a medical emergency, a physician may not perform an abortion unless, before 07 beginning the abortion procedure or treatment, the attending physician receives from 08 the patient written certification that the attending physician has orally 09 (1) described to the patient the nature of the procedure or treatment that 10 will be used for the abortion; 11 (2) described to the patient alternative procedures or treatments that 12 could be used for the abortion; 13 (3) informed the patient of the probable gestational age of the unborn 14 child at the time the abortion is to be performed;
01 (4) described the medical risks associated with carrying the child to 02 term; 03 (5) informed the patient of risks that may be associated with the 04 procedure or treatment to be used and alternative procedures or treatments described 05 under (2) of this subsection, including risks 06 (A) associated with anesthesia if anesthesia might be used; 07 (B) associated with medication that may be involved; 08 (C) of infection, including the possibility of chronic infection 09 that may lead to the inability of the patient to bear a child in the future; 10 (D) of bleeding that may result from the procedure or treatment; 11 (E) of a perforated uterus; 12 (6) informed the patient that the procedure or treatment might not be 13 effective in terminating the pregnancy. 14 (b) A physician who violates this section is guilty of a class A misdemeanor 15 and is subject to disciplinary sanctions under AS 08.64.326 for unprofessional conduct. 16 (c) In this section, "medical emergency" means a condition which, on the basis 17 of the attending physician's good faith clinical judgment, so complicates the medical 18 condition of a pregnant woman as to necessitate the immediate abortion of the 19 woman's pregnancy to avert the woman's death or for which a delay will create 20 serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of major bodily function.