| | | Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: |
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| | | Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §1599-A, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 61, §4, is | | amended to read: |
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| | | 2. Informed consent. To ensure that the consent for an | | abortion is truly informed consent, the attending physician shall | | inform the woman orally and in writing at least 24 hours prior to | | performing an abortion, in a manner that in the physician's | | professional judgment is not misleading and that will be | | understood by the patient, of at least the following: |
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| | | A. According to the physician's best judgment she is | | pregnant; |
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| | B. The number of weeks elapsed from the probable time of | the conception; |
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| | | B-1.__The probable gestational age and anatomical | | development of the fetus at the time of the scheduled | | abortion; |
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| | C. The particular risks associated with her own pregnancy | and the abortion technique to be performed; and |
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| | | C-1.__The physical and psychological risks associated with | | abortion and the abortion technique to be performed, in view | | of that woman's own pregnancy.__These risks must include, | | but are not limited to, the risks described in the pamphlet | | published by the Bureau of Health pursuant to subsection 3; |
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| | D. At the woman's request, alternatives Alternatives to | | abortion such as childbirth and adoption and information | | concerning public and private agencies that will provide the | | woman with economic and other assistance to carry the fetus | to term, including, if the woman so requests, a list of | these agencies and the services available from each.; and |
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| | | E.__The name of the physician who is to perform the | | abortion. |
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| | | Sec. 2. 22 MRSA §1599-A, sub-§3 is enacted to read: |
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| | | 3.__Bureau of Health to publish pamphlet; rules.__The Bureau | | of Health shall publish and periodically update as necessary a | | pamphlet that describes both the physical and psychological known | | risks of abortion.__The risks described in the pamphlet must | | include, but are not limited to, perforated uterus, hemorrhage, | | death, incompetent cervix, retained fetal parts after abortion, | | grief, sense of loss, anger, depression, alienation and low self- | | esteem.__The Bureau of Health shall send copies of the |
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