Abortion; informed written consent. (HB2286)
Introduced By
Del. Jeion Ward (D-Hampton) with support from co-patron Sen. Jennifer McClellan (D-Richmond)
Progress
✓ |
Introduced |
✗ |
Passed Committee |
☐ |
Passed House |
☐ |
Passed Senate |
☐ |
Signed by Governor |
☐ |
Became Law |
Description
Abortion; informed written consent. Provides that a woman seeking an abortion may waive in writing any requirement establishing a mandatory time period or mandating that a physician provide to or review with the woman specific information or materials before an abortion may be performed. The bill requires that a copy of such waiver be maintained in the woman's medical records. The bill also provides that, regardless of any waiver, a physician is still obligated to satisfy the applicable standard of care. Read the Bill »
Outcome
Bill Has Failed
History
Date | Action |
---|---|
01/11/2017 | Committee |
01/11/2017 | Presented and ordered printed 17103735D |
01/11/2017 | Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice |
01/16/2017 | Impact statement from VDH (HB2286) |
02/07/2017 | Left in Courts of Justice |
Comments
The ACLU of Virginia strongly supports HB2286, which would give back to patients their right to true informed consent by allowing them to waive non-medical, ideological, and medically unnecessary state requirements that are not intended to enhance informed consent. Each patient needs to be able to trust her doctor is providing her with timely care, free from judgment and stigma. Virginia law currently requires physicians to communicate biased information about abortion to their patients, perform unnecessary diagnostic testing, and to delay care for 24 hours against their patient’s wishes. These laws violate the basic tenants of informed consent, and delay a woman’s ability to access safe, legal abortion care by requiring multiple trips to a clinic for no other reason than to show the state’s disapproval of a woman’s personal, constitutionally protected medical decision. This bill would allow a woman and her doctor to determine which actions and information would add to her ability to make an informed medical decision, not politicians.
The ACLU of Virginia strongly supports HB1424, which would give back to patients their right to true informed consent by allowing them to waive non-medical, ideological, and medically unnecessary state requirements that are not intended to enhance informed consent. Each patient needs to be able to trust her doctor is providing her with timely care, free from judgment and stigma. Virginia law currently requires physicians to communicate biased information about abortion to their patients, perform unnecessary diagnostic testing, and to delay care for 24 hours against their patient’s wishes. These laws violate the basic tenants of informed consent, and delay a woman’s ability to access safe, legal abortion care by requiring multiple trips to a clinic for no other reason than to show the state’s disapproval of a woman’s personal, constitutionally protected medical decision. This bill would allow a woman and her doctor to determine which actions and information would add to her ability to make an informed medical decision, not politicians.