Abortion Consent Act Introduced
Today, Nancy Barto, state representative from District 7, filed the Abortion Consent Act, HB 2564. This bill is a common-sense approach to our abortion statutes that is long overdue. The Abortion Consent Act protects women, children, parents, and health-care workers. While some might find this bill to be “extreme” or “unreasonable,” we encourage you to read the common-sense provisions found in this bill. This Act will empower women to make informed choices about their health-care and it will protect the rights of healthcare workers that want to refuse to be apart of an abortion.
Here is a brief summary of what the Act accomplishes:
1) Informed consent (If a woman is undergoing an important procedure, shouldn’t she have the accurate information and alternatives?)
- When a woman is considering an abortion, she must receive accurate medical information from her doctor that includes the risks of the procedure, the gestational age and physical characteristics of the unborn child, and alternatives if she chooses not to have an abortion.
2) Parental Consent
- The parental consent statutes are modified so that the parent’s signature must be notarized. For cases where a judge bypasses the parental consent, the guidelines are changed to reflect a Court of Appeals opinion that says a minor must give clear and convincing evidence that she is mature enough to give her consent for an abortion without her parent’s consent.
3) Right to Refuse to participate in abortion (Should an employee have to choose between his faith and his job?)
- Clarifies that a physician or other employee of a hospital, clinic or other medical facility who states in writing an objection to an abortion on moral or religious grounds is not required to facilitate or participate in an abortion.
