2021 Louisiana Laws
Revised Statutes
Title 40 - Public Health and Safety
§1061.27. Partial birth abortion
RS 1061.27 - Partial birth abortion
A. 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, for a partial birth abortion procedure, 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 is a person of the full age of majority and consented to the abortion, or unless his 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.
B. For the purposes of this Section:
(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; and (b) performs the overt act, other than completion of delivery, that kills the partially delivered living fetus.
(2) "Physician" means a doctor of medicine or osteopathy legally authorized to practice medicine and surgery by the state in which the doctor performs such activity, or any other individual legally authorized by this state to perform abortions, provided, however, that any individual who is not a physician or not otherwise legally authorized by this state to perform abortions, but who nevertheless directly performs a partial birth abortion, shall be subject to the provisions of this Section.
C. This Section shall not apply to a partial birth abortion that is necessary to save the life of a mother whose 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.
Acts 2007, No. 477, §2, eff. July 12, 2007; Redesignated from R.S. 40:1299.35.16 by Acts 2008, No. 220, §14, eff. June 14, 2008; Redesignated from R.S. 40:1299.35.17 by HCR 84 of 2015 R.S.
