How SB 240 changes current law

AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

The bill requires physicians to offer ultrasound imaging and fetal heart tone auscultation before terminating a pregnancy, with penalties for noncompliance.

• § 1794, Title 24

  A physician, or an agent of the physician, must offer the patient ultrasound imaging and auscultation of fetal heart tone services before terminating a pregnancy.

  This addition mandates that patients must be offered ultrasound imaging and fetal heart tone auscultation prior to an abortion.

• § 1794, Title 24

  The ultrasound image and auscultation services offered must include all of the following: an active ultrasound image...that the patient may view and an auscultation of fetal heart tone...that the patient may hear.

  This specifies the requirements for the types of ultrasound and auscultation services that must be offered.

• § 1794, Title 24

  Before terminating a pregnancy, a physician must obtain the patient’s signature on a form indicating that the patient was offered ultrasound image and auscultation services under this section.

  This introduces a requirement for documentation that the patient was offered the services.

• § 1794, Title 24

  A person who intentionally terminates a pregnancy and who intentionally or knowingly fails to conform to any requirement of this section is guilty of a class A misdemeanor.

  This establishes criminal penalties for intentionally not complying with the ultrasound requirement.

• § 1794, Title 24

  Failure to comply with this section provides the basis for...a civil malpractice action for actual and punitive damages and an intentional violation of this section is admissible in a civil suit as prima facie evidence of medical malpractice.

  This adds civil penalties and the possibility of a malpractice claim for noncompliance.

• § 1794, Title 24

  In a civil action under this section, the court must permit any of the following: allow a plaintiff to proceed using solely her initials or a pseudonym.

  This allows for privacy protections for plaintiffs in civil actions related to this law.