Require Abortion Providers To Inform Patients Of The Option To View An Ultrasound.

 

This bill seeks to protect patients’ informed choice in abortion decisions by requiring abortion providers, at least

forty-eight (48) hours before any scheduled procedural abortion, to inform the abortion-seeking patient of her option to

view an ultrasound sonogram of her pregnancy. This bill does not require patients to have an ultrasound administered nor

to view the sonogram produced by said ultrasound.

 

A 2014 study conducted by Gatter et al. determined that, among the 7.4% of participants reporting medium or low decision

certainty regarding abortion, the proportion of women proceeding to abortion was 3.5 percentage points lower in

participants who viewed an ultrasound than in patients who did not (95.2% vs 98.7%). Additionally, in 2013, the state of

Wisconsin passed a legislation requiring abortion providers to administer and display a prenatal ultrasound to

abortion-seeking patients. A 2017 study conducted in the state by Upadhyay et al. reported the proportion of

participants deciding to continue pregnancy to be 2.5 percentage points higher after the 2013 legislation than before

the legislation (11.2% versus 8.7%). Despite these small margins, patients with lesser decision certainty must not be

overlooked and must be given the resources to make an informed choice regarding abortion. By requiring abortion

providers to offer patients the opportunity to view an ultrasound sonogram, this bill aims to uphold the informed choice

of women seeking abortion.

 

Abortion: the induced termination of a pregnancy through chemical or procedural means. For the sake of this bill, this

definition includes neither miscarriage treatment nor termination of pregnancies that pose a serious threat to the life

of the mother (e.g. ectopic pregnancies).

Abortion Provider: a medical facility that administers abortions. Often a clinic or hospital.

Procedural Abortion: an abortion performed in a clinical setting via methods such as vacuum aspiration or dilation and

evacuation (D&E). Typically performed during the late first or second trimester of pregnancy.

Ultrasound: an imaging test that produces a sonogram, or picture, of internal organs. Often termed a “prenatal

ultrasound” when used to monitor pregnancy. Typically, prenatal ultrasounds are performed as early as 7 to 9 weeks

gestation. In this bill, “ultrasound” refers to a prenatal ultrasound.

 

This bill does not require funding, as it does not necessitate increased resources or wages.

 

Any abortion provider found to be in violation of this regulation may be subject to a fine of $7,500.00. Repeated

offenses may incur fines up to $30,000.00.

 

This legislation will take effect on February 1, 2026.