H.R. 492 · 114th Congress
Ultrasound Informed Consent Act
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Never voted on. It didn't reach a floor vote before the 114th Congress ended, so it expired. A bill has to be introduced again to be considered in a new Congress.
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DuncanSponsor11 cosponsors · 11 R
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Franks
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Gibbs
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Huizenga
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Jones
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Latta
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Miller
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Messer
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Nunnelee
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Russell10 signed on when it was introduced; the rest joined later. Cosponsors who withdrew aren't shown.
Amends the Public Health Service Act to require abortion providers, before a woman gives informed consent to any part of an abortion, to perform an obstetric ultrasound on the pregnant woman, provide a simultaneous explanation of what the ultrasound is depicting, display the ultrasound images so the woman may view them, and provide a complete medical…
What it does: CRS summary · Introduced in House · Jan 22, 2015
Ultrasound Informed Consent Act
Amends the Public Health Service Act to require abortion providers, before a woman gives informed consent to any part of an abortion, to perform an obstetric ultrasound on the pregnant woman, provide a simultaneous explanation of what the ultrasound is depicting, display the ultrasound images so the woman may view them, and provide a complete medical description of the images, including the dimensions of the embryo or fetus, cardiac activity if present and visible, and the presence of external members and internal organs if present and viewable.
Prohibits construing this Act to require a woman to view the images or penalizing the provider or the woman if she declines to look at the images.
Exempts an abortion provider if the abortion is necessary to save the life of a woman whose life is endangered by a physical condition. Requires the provider to include in the woman's medical file a certification of the specific medical circumstances that support this determination.
Authorizes the Attorney General to commence a civil action in federal court against any abortion provider who knowingly violates this Act. Prescribes penalties. Directs the Attorney General to notify the appropriate state medical licensing authority of penalties assessed. Authorizes a woman upon whom an abortion has been performed in violation of this Act to commence a civil action against the provider for actual and punitive damages.
Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov
About this bill and sources
Official title: Ultrasound Informed Consent Act
Latest action (Jan 23, 2015): Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Policy area: Health · Origin: House · Introduced: Jan 22, 2015
Official page on Congress.gov · Bill text (GovInfo) · Status record (XML)
No recorded floor vote found.