INFORMED CONSENT LAW: REQUIRE ULTRASOUND

House Bill 4446

Sponsor:  Rep. David Robertson

Committee:  Health Policy

Complete to 5-2-05

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 4446 AS INTRODUCED 3-3-05

The Public Health Code requires a physician to obtain a patient's written, freely given, and informed consent before performing an abortion, except in the case of a medical emergency.  As part of the requirement that the patient's consent be informed, a physician must provide a patient who chooses to have an abortion with certain information, including medically accurate depictions and descriptions of a fetus and the specific procedure to be performed at least 24 hours before performing the procedure.

House Bill 4446 would amend the health code to also require a physician, at least 24 hours before performing an abortion on a patient, to perform an ultrasound on that patient, provide her with an opportunity to view the active ultrasound image of the fetus, and provide her with a physical picture of the ultrasound image of the fetus.

MCL 333.17015

FISCAL IMPACT:

A fiscal analysis is in process.

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   Susan Stutzky

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Susan Frey

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.