2006 Louisiana Laws - RS 40:1299.35.2 — Abortion by physician; determination of viability; ultrasound test required; exceptions

§1299.35.2.  Abortion by physician; determination of viability; ultrasound test required; exceptions

A.  No person shall perform or induce an abortion unless that person is a physician licensed to practice medicine in the state of Louisiana.

B.  Before a physician performs an abortion on a woman he has reason to believe is carrying an unborn child of twenty or more weeks gestational age, the physician, by use of his good faith medical judgment, shall first determine if the unborn child is viable.

C.  In order to preserve the health of the woman, and in order to make a finding of the gestational age, weight, and lung maturity of the unborn child, the physician intending to terminate a pregnancy of twenty or more weeks gestational age shall first perform or cause to be performed an ultrasound examination of the unborn child of a quality commonly used by the ordinary skillful, careful, and prudent physician engaged in similar practice under the same or similar conditions.  The physician shall provide the option of viewing the ultrasound images to the pregnant woman as the test is being performed.  The physician shall enter such findings and determination of viability in the medical record of the pregnant woman, along with photographs or prints of the ultrasound evidencing the findings.

Added by Acts 1978, No. 435, §1.  Amended by Acts 1981, No. 774, §1, eff. July 23, 1981; Acts 1999, No. 1232, §1, eff. July 9, 1999; Acts 2001, No. 1110, §1, eff. June 28, 2001.