Ark. Senate Approves Bill Requiring Abortion Providers To Inform Women That Fetuses Might Feel Pain After 20 Weeks Gestation

Main Category: Abortion
Article Date: 15 Mar 2005 - 13:00 PDT

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USA - The Arkansas Senate on Thursday approved 24-1 a bill... (SB 74) that would require physicians to inform women who are seeking abortion at 20 weeks gestation or later that their fetuses might feel pain during the procedure, the Associated Press reports (Jefferson, Associated Press, 3/10). Under the Unborn Child Pain Awareness and Prevention Act, the state Department of Health would be required to publish brochures stating that a fetus of 20 weeks gestation or later "has the physical structures necessary to experience pain" and that physicians "routinely" administer anesthesia to fetuses that must undergo prenatal surgery. According to the measure, abortion providers would be required to notify women of the brochure -- which would be available in print or on a Web site -- in person or by phone at least 24 hours before performing the procedure. Women seeking abortion would be required to sign a statement confirming that they were notified of and had access to the information of possible fetal pain. The measure would not apply in cases where an abortion after 20 weeks gestation is necessary to save a woman's life or prevent her from experiencing irreparable harm (Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report, 1/14). The measure now goes to the state House Committee on Public Health, Welfare and Labor (SB 74 status report, 3/10).

"Reprinted with permission from kaisernetwork.org kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/repro The Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.

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