The patient is told when viability begins. This is when the fetus has possibly developed enough to survive outside of the uterus and if aborted alive the doctor would be required to try and sustain its life. At the patient's request we will provide her with a list of the public and private agencies and services available to assist her during the pregnancy and after the birth if she should choose not to have an abortion. The benefits and risks of continued pregnancy and childbirth, as well as abortion, are satisfactorily explained to the patient. The Knoxville Center for Reproductive Health meets all of the state's required guidelines.
Every patient sees a counselor individually.
During this private, confidential counseling session, the patient has an opportunity to ask any questions and discuss her decision to have an abortion. For more information on our counseling staff, click here . In 1995 the Tennessee legislature passed a parental consent law requiring that a minor tell a parent prior to obtaining an abortion. A Federal judge, however, has ordered the state not to enforce the parental consent law. That injunction remains in effect today, but the state has appealed the judge's order.