22nd Alaska State Legislature
Information from Representative John Coghill (R)
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Session: State Capitol, Room 102 Juneau, AK 99801-1182 Toll Free: (877) 465-3719 Phone: (907) 465-3719 Fax: (907) 465-3258 Personal Web Site: www.johncoghill.com Interim: 119 N Cushman Street, Suite 211 Fairbanks, AK 99701 Phone: (907) 456-5081 Fax: (907) 456-8245 |
Sponsor Statement for HB 112
Abortion: Informed Consent; Information
An Act relating to information and services available to pregnant women and other persons; and ensuring informed consent before an abortion may be performed, except in cases of medical emergency.
Released: February 21, 2001
Since the early 1970s, Alaska regulations have required physicians to advise patients seeking an abortion of the "medical implications and the possible emotional and physical sequelae of the procedure." (12 AAC 40.070). However, Alaska's informed consent regulation lacks specificity and is not uniform in its application.
HB 112 elevates Alaska's current informed consent requirement from regulation to statute. This legislation would ensure that a patient is given the appropriate information about an abortion procedure without obstructing a physician's ability to tailor information to the individual needs of the patient.
HB 112 also requires that the Department of Health and Social Services develop a pregnancy informational pamphlet to be made available to the public. The pamphlet would list factual, nonbiased information about pregnancy and abortion, as well as pregnancy and abortion alternative resources, and state services available to pregnant women in Alaska.
HB 112 reinforces the current ethical standards by protecting them from possible systematic abuse in the future, putting a statutory safeguard into place for both women and physicians.
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