Abortion–ultrasound information.

2015
STATE OF WYOMING
15LSO-0500
Numbered
2.1

HOUSE BILL

NO.

HB0156

Abortion–ultrasound information.

Sponsored by:
Representative(s) Reeder, Gay, Halverson, Jaggi, Jennings, Kroeker, Loucks and Steinmetz and Senator(s) Dockstader, Meier, Peterson and Ross

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to public health and safety; requiring physicians to provide patients with specified information before certain nonemergency abortion procedures; providing and amending definitions; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1
.

W.S. 35
‑
6
‑
119 is created to read:

35
‑
6
‑
119
.

Information provided to patient.

(a)

Except in the case of a medical emergency, at least twenty
‑
four (24) hours prior to an abortion being
performed or induced on an unborn child, the physician performing the abortion on the pregnant woman, the referring physician or a qualified person assisting the physic
ian shall, orally and in person
inform the pregnant woman that she has a right to view an active ultrasound of the unborn child and hear the heartbeat of the unborn child if the heartbeat is audible.
The active ultrasound image shall
be of a quality consistent with standard medical practice in the community, shall contain the dimensions of the unborn child and shall accurately portray the presence of external members and internal organs, if present or viewable, of the unborn child. The auscu
ltation of fetal heart tone shall
be of a quality consistent with standard medical practice in the community.

(b)

This section shall not apply to an abortion performed with the intent to:

(
i
)

Save the life or preserve the health of the unborn child;

(ii)

Remove a dead unborn child;

(iii)

Remove an ectopic pregnancy.

(c)

If disclosures are required pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, the physician shall obtain a signed statement from the pregnant woman acknowledging that she was provided the information specified in subsection (a) of this section. The signed statement shall be placed in the pregnant woman's medical file and shall be treated as a confidential medical document under all applicable state and federal laws and regulations.

(d)

For purposes of this section:

(
i
)

"Medical emergency" means a pregnant woman's condition which, on the basis of a physician's good faith clinical judgment:

(A)

C
omplicates her medical condition that the immediate termination of her pregnancy is necessary to prevent her death; or

(B)

Creates a serious risk of causing her substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function.

(ii)

"Qualified person" means an agent or employee of the physician and who is a licensed psychologist, clinical social worker, professional counselor, registered nurse or physician.

Section 2
.

W.S. 35
‑
6
‑
101(
a)(xii) is amended to read:

35
‑
6
‑
101
.

Definitions.

(a)

As used in the act, unless the context otherwise requires:
(xii)

"This act" means W.S. 35
‑
6
‑
101 through
35
‑
6
‑
118
35
‑
6
‑
119
.

Section
3
.

This
act is effective July 1,
2015
.

(END)

1
HB0156