Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act of 2006

Bill: 109-hr-6099
Sponsor: Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4]
Introduced: 2006-09-19 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Abortion
Anesthetics
Civil actions and liability
Communication in medicine
Damages
Electronic government information
Emergency Management
Emergency medicine
Federal preemption
Fetus
Fines (Penalties)
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Government publications
Health education
Informed consent (Medical law)
Internet
Law
Licenses
Medicaid
Medical associations
Medical records
Pain
Physicians
Pregnant women
Punitive damages
Science, Technology, Communications
Social Welfare
State laws
Web sites
Women

Summary:
action_date: 2006-09-19
text: 
Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act of 2006 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require an abortion provider who knowingly performs an abortion of a pain-capable unborn child (defined as an unborn child who has reached a probable stage of development of 20 weeks or more after fertilization), to first: (1) inform the woman of the probable age of the child; (2) provide to the woman an Unborn Child Pain Awareness Brochure (unless she waives receipt); (3) provide information that pain medicine administered to the mother may not prevent pain in the child, but in some cases anesthesia or pain-reducing drugs can be administered directly to the child; (4) give the woman the provider's best medical judgment of the risks and costs of such anesthesia or analgesic; and (5) obtain the woman's signature on the Unborn Child Pain Awareness Decision Form and her explicit request for or refusal of the administration of drugs to the child. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop the Unborn Child Pain Awareness Brochure that includes a statement that there is substantial evidence that the process of being killed in an abortion will cause the unborn child pain and that the mother has the option of having pain-reducing drugs administered directly to the child.
 
Creates an exception for certified medical emergencies. 
 
Establishes civil penalties for willfully failing to comply with this Act. Authorizes: (1) the Attorney General to bring a civil action under this Act; and (2) private rights of action for violations of this Act. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-12-06
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 250 - 162 (Roll no. 526).
action_date: 2006-12-06
text: Failed of passage/not agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 250 - 162 (Roll no. 526).
action_date: 2006-12-06
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR 12/7/2006 H8856-8857)
action_date: 2006-12-06
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2006-12-06
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6099.
action_date: 2006-12-06
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H8762-8771; text of measure as introduced: CR H8762-8764)
action_date: 2006-12-06
text: Mr. Deal (GA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
action_date: 2006-09-25
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2006-09-19
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2006-09-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2006-09-19
text: Introduced in House