Second Chance at Life Act of 2023

To ensure that a woman seeking a chemical abortion is informed that it may be possible to reverse the intended effects of the abortion if the woman changes her mind, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Second Chance at Life Act of 2023 2. Abortion pill reversal informed consent The Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 201 et seq. XXXIV Abortion pill reversal informed consent 3401. Definitions In this title: (1) Abortion provider The term abortion provider (2) Chemical abortion The term chemical abortion (3) Unborn child The term unborn child (4) Woman The term woman 3402. Abortion pill reversal informed consent (a) Requirement of compliance by providers Effective 30 days after the date of enactment of the Second Chance at Life Act of 2023 (b) Informed consent Except in the case of a medical emergency described in section 3403, a chemical abortion involving the two drug process of dispensing mifepristone first and then misoprostol shall not be performed or induced or attempted to be performed or induced without the following: (1) The woman is informed, by telephone or in person, by the physician who is to perform the chemical abortion, by a referring physician, or by an agent of either physician at least 24 hours before the chemical abortion, that— (A) it may be possible to reverse the intended effects of a mifepristone-induced chemical abortion if the woman changes her mind but that time is of the essence; and (B) information on and assistance with reversing the effects of a mifepristone-induced chemical abortion is available on the website of the Department of Health and Human Services required by section 3405(b). (2) After the first drug involved in the two drug process is dispensed in a mifepristone-induced chemical abortion, the physician shall provide written medical discharge instructions to the pregnant woman which must include the statement: Recent developing research has indicated that mifepristone alone is not always effective in ending a pregnancy. It may be possible to avoid, cease, or even to reverse the intended effects of a mifepristone-induced chemical abortion if the second pill has not been taken. Please consult with a health care professional immediately. . 3403. Exception for medical emergencies (a) Exception The provisions of section 3402 shall not apply in the case where a woman suffers from a physical disorder, physical injury, or physical illness that would, as certified by a physician, place the woman in danger of death unless an abortion is performed, including a life-endangering physical condition caused by or arising from the pregnancy itself. (b) Certification Upon a determination by an abortion provider under subsection (a) that an abortion is necessary to save the life of a mother, such provider shall include in the medical file of the pregnant woman a truthful and accurate certification of the specific medical circumstances that support such determination. 3404. Sign posting (a) Posting Any private office, freestanding surgical outpatient clinic or other facility, or clinic in which chemical abortions, other than abortions necessary in the case of a medical emergency described in section 3403, are performed shall conspicuously post a sign (in a location as described in subsection (c) so as to be clearly visible to patients) which reads: Research has indicated that mifepristone alone is not always effective in ending a pregnancy and that its effects can be blocked or reversed if the second pill has not yet been taken. If you change your mind prior to taking the second pill and desire to attempt to save your pregnancy, consult with a health care professional immediately. . (b) Lettering; size The sign required by subsection (a) shall be printed with lettering that is— (1) legible; and (2) at least three quarters of an inch boldfaced type. (c) Locations A facility in which chemical abortions are performed that is a private office or a freestanding surgical outpatient clinic shall post the sign required by subsection (a) in each patient waiting room and patient consultation room used by patients on whom chemical abortions are performed. A hospital or any other facility in which chemical abortions are performed that is not a private office or freestanding surgical outpatient clinic shall post the required sign in each patient admission area used by patients on whom chemical abortions are performed. 3405. Printed information and website (a) In general The Secretary shall publish, in English and in each language which is the primary language of 2 percent or more of the population of any State, and shall cause to be available on the website required by subsection (b), the following printed materials in such a way as to ensure that the information is easily comprehensible: (1) Materials designed to inform the woman of the possibility of reversing the effects of a chemical abortion utilizing mifepristone if she changes her mind. (2) Materials on the assistance and resources that may be available to help reverse the effects of a chemical abortion. (b) Website Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of the Second Chance at Life Act of 2023 (1) No information regarding who uses the website shall be collected or maintained. (2) The Secretary shall monitor on a regular basis the website to prevent and correct tampering. (3) The website shall be maintained at a minimum resolution of 70 DPI (dots per inch). (4) All pictures appearing on the website shall be a minimum of 200x300 pixels. (5) All letters on the website shall be a minimum of 12 point font. (6) All information and pictures on the website shall be accessible with an industry standard browser, requiring no additional plug-ins. 3406. Civil remedies (a) Civil suits for violation Except as provided in subsection (b), any of the following parties may bring a civil action before the appropriate Federal district court for actual and punitive damages against an abortion provider who knowingly or recklessly performed or attempted to perform a chemical abortion in violation of this title: (1) A person upon whom such a chemical abortion has been performed or attempted. (2) A father of an unborn child who is the subject of such a chemical abortion. (3) A parent of a person upon whom such a chemical abortion has been performed or attempted if such person had not attained 18 years of age at the time of such abortion or if such person died as the result of such abortion. (b) Barring suit A plaintiff may not bring a civil action under subsection (a) if a chemical abortion is performed or attempted with respect to a pregnancy that is the result of the plaintiff’s criminal conduct. (c) Attorney’s fee If a party described in paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of subsection (a) is the prevailing party in an action under this section, the court shall award a reasonable attorney’s fee to such party. If a defendant is the prevailing party in an action under this section, and the court finds that such action was frivolous or brought in bad faith, the court shall award a reasonable attorney’s fee to the defendant. . 3. Preemption Nothing in this Act or the amendment made by this Act shall be construed to preempt any provision of State law to the extent that such State law establishes, implements, or continues in effect disclosure requirements regarding abortion or penalties for failure to comply with such requirements that are more extensive than those provided under the amendment made by this Act. 4. Severability If any provision of this Act, or any application thereof, is found to be unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act and any application thereof shall not be affected by such finding.

Summary: Second Chance at Life Act of 2023 This bill requires abortion providers to disclose information about the possibility of reversing a medication abortion. This is a procedure that uses a medication regimen to terminate a pregnancy, typically with a two-drug protocol. Providers must inform patients that it may be possible to reverse the effects of a medication abortion after taking the first drug. They must also let patients know that more information and assistance is available on the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) website. At least 24 hours before the procedure, the provider must share this information with the patient in person or by telephone. The provider must also include the information in written discharge instructions after the first drug is dispensed. The bill sets out an exception to these notification requirements when an abortion is necessary to resolve a physical injury or condition that threatens the life of the woman. The provider must document the circumstances giving rise to the exception in the patient's medical file. Furthermore, providers must post signs with this information in their offices or facilities, and HHS must maintain information about reversing medication abortions on its website.