Sponsor Statement for SB 91: Ensuring Informed Consent

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Session:
State Capitol, Room 423
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
Phone: (907) 465-4940
Fax: (907) 465-3766

Interim:
716 W 4th Avenue, Suite 450
Anchorage, AK 99501-2133
Phone: (907) 269-0106
Fax: (907) 269-0109

145 Main Steet Loop
Kenai, AK 99611
Phone: (907) 283-7996
Fax: (907) 283-3075

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.

For Immediate Release:	March 12, 2001
Contact:	Senator Jerry Ward at (907) 465-4940

SB 91 elevates Alaska's current informed consent requirement from regulation to statue. 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.

Since the early 1970s, Alaska regulations have required physicians to advise patients seeking 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.

SB 91 requires the Department of Health and Social Services to 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 women in Alaska.

SB 91 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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