HB 1942 -- Informed Consent for Abortion

Co-Sponsors:  Reynolds, Burton, O'Connor, Gratz, Gambaro, Holt,
Luetkenhaus, Cunningham, Reinhart

This bill requires a physician, prior to performing an abortion,
to inform the mother of the unborn child of all reasonably
foreseeable risks of an abortion.  The mother must be allowed
sufficient time to consider the information.

Prior to an abortion, the mother and physician must certify in
writing that the information was discussed.  A physician will be
civilly liable to the mother and any other person sustaining loss
or damages caused by the failure to provide the information.

The bill makes it a class B felony for any physician to perform
an abortion who does not have clinical privileges to provide
obstetrical and gynecological services at a hospital located
within 30 miles of the location at which the abortion is
performed. Current law requires a physician to have surgical
privileges at any hospital which offers obstetrical and
gynecological care.

The bill revises the definition of "ambulatory surgical center"
contained in Section 197.200, RSMo.  The facility will include
any establishment operated for the purposes of performing or
inducing any second or third trimester abortion or at least five
first trimester abortions per month.

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated October 11, 2002 at 9:03 am