2014 Louisiana Laws
Revised Statutes
TITLE 40 - Public Health and Safety
RS 40:1299.35.18 - Partial birth abortion, civil action against abortionist

§1299.35.18. Partial birth abortion, civil action against abortionist

A. No licensed physician or any other person shall perform a partial birth abortion on a female unless the procedure performed is necessary to save the life of the female because her life is endangered by a physical disorder, physical illness or physical injury, including a life-endangering physical condition caused by or arising from the pregnancy itself.

B. As used in this Section, the following definitions shall apply unless otherwise indicated:

(1) "Partial birth abortion" means an abortion in which:

(a) The person performing the abortion deliberately and intentionally vaginally delivers a living fetus until, in the case of a head-first presentation, the entire fetal head is outside the body of the mother, or, in the case of breech presentation, any part of the fetal trunk past the navel is outside the body of the mother, for the purpose of performing an overt act that the person knows will kill the partially delivered living fetus.

(b) The person performing the abortion performs the overt act, other than completion of delivery, that kills the partially delivered living fetus.

(2) "Physician" means a natural person who is the holder of an allopathic (M.D.) degree or an osteopathic (D.O.) degree from a medical college in good standing with the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners who holds a license, permit, certification, or registration issued by the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners to engage in the practice of medicine in this state. For the purposes of this Paragraph, "the practice of medicine" means the holding out of one's self to the public as being engaged in the business of, or the actual engagement in, the diagnosing, treating, curing, or relieving of any bodily or mental disease, condition, infirmity, deformity, defect, ailment, or injury in any human being, other than himself, whether by the use of any drug, instrument or force, whether physical or psychic, or of what other nature, or any other agency or means; or the examining, either gratuitously or for compensation, of any person or material from any person for such purpose whether such drug, instrument, force, or other agency or means is applied to or used by the patient or by another person; or the attending of a woman in childbirth without the aid of a licensed physician or midwife.

C. Any person who is not a physician or not otherwise legally authorized by the state to perform abortions, but who nevertheless directly performs a partial birth abortion, shall be subject to the provisions of this Section.

D. There is hereby created a cause of action for civil damages for injuries and wrongful death as more fully set forth in Louisiana Civil Code Articles 2315.1 and 2315.2, except that such causes of action shall only be maintained by the following persons:

(1) The natural or biological father of the aborted infant or fetus, unless such father's criminal conduct caused the pregnancy.

(2) The mother of the aborted infant or fetus, unless the mother is a person of the full age of majority and consented to the partial birth abortion.

(3) The parents or guardian on behalf of the mother of the aborted infant or fetus if the mother was a minor at the time of the abortion, unless the parents or guardian consented to the partial birth abortion.

E.(1) A physician charged with an offense under this Section may seek a hearing before the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners on whether the physician's conduct was necessary to save the life of the mother whose life was endangered by a physical disorder, physical illness, or physical injury, including a life-endangering physical condition caused by or arising from the pregnancy itself.

(2) The findings on that issue are admissible on that issue at the trial of the physician. Upon motion of the physician, the court shall delay the beginning of the trial for not more than thirty days to permit such hearing to take place.

Acts 2007, No. 473, §2, eff. July 12, 2007; Acts 2008, No. 220, §14, eff. June 14, 2008.