Teleabortion Prevention Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-3252
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA]
Introduced: 2020-02-04
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Abortion

Civil actions and liability

Health personnel

Health technology, devices, supplies

Medical ethics

Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Latest action: action_date: 2020-02-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-02-04
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Teleabortion Prevention Act of 2020</b></p> <p>This bill restricts the use of telehealth for chemical abortions (also known as medication abortions). </p> <p>Specifically, it requires a provider who dispenses or prescribes medication for a chemical abortion to physically examine the patient, be physically present at the location of the chemical abortion, and schedule a follow-up visit. The bill provides an exception for a chemical abortion that is necessary to save the life of a mother whose life is endangered by a physical disorder, illness, injury, or condition. </p> <p>The bill establishes criminal penalties&#8212;a fine, a prison term of up to two years, or both&#8212;for a provider who does not comply with the requirements.</p> <p>A patient who undergoes a chemical abortion may not be prosecuted. </p>

tv_txt: II 116th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3252 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 4, 2020 Mr. Cassidy (for himself, Mr. Kennedy , Mr. Inhofe , Mr. Daines , Mr. Lankford , Mrs. Blackburn , Mr. Cramer , and Mr. Scott of South Carolina ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To prohibit chemical abortions performed without the presence of a healthcare provider, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Teleabortion Prevention Act of 2020 . 2. Chemical abortions prohibited without a healthcare provider present (a) Chemical abortions prohibited without a physician present Chapter 74 of title 18, United States Code, is amended— (1) in the chapter heading by striking Partial-Birth ; and (2) by inserting after section 1531 the following: 1532. Chemical abortions prohibited without a healthcare provider physically present (a) Offense Any healthcare provider who, in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, knowingly provides or attempts to provide a chemical abortion— (1) without physically examining the patient; (2) without being physically present at the location of the chemical abortion; or (3) without scheduling a follow-up visit for the patient to occur not more than 14 days after the administration or use of the drug to assess the patient’s physical condition, shall be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned not more than 2 years, or both. This subsection does not apply to a chemical 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. (b) No liability of the patient A patient upon whom an abortion is performed may not be prosecuted under this section or for a conspiracy to violate this section. (c) Definitions In this section: (1) Abortion drug The term abortion drug means any medicine, drug or any other substance, or any combination of drugs, medicines or substances, when it is used— (A) to intentionally kill the unborn child of a woman known to be pregnant; or (B) to intentionally terminate the pregnancy of a woman known to be pregnant, with an intention other than— (i) to produce a live birth; or (ii) to remove a dead unborn child. (2) Attempts to provide In this section, the term attempts to provide , means conduct that, under the circumstances as the actor believes them to be, constitutes a substantial step in a course of conduct planned to culminate in a chemical abortion. (3) Chemical abortion The term chemical abortion refers to the use of an abortion drug— (A) to intentionally kill the unborn child of a woman known to be pregnant; or (B) to intentionally terminate the pregnancy of a woman known to be pregnant, with an intention other than— (i) to produce a live birth; or (ii) to remove a dead unborn child. (4) Healthcare provider The term healthcare provider means any person licensed to prescribe prescription drugs under applicable Federal and State laws. (5) Provide In this section, the term provide , means to dispense or prescribe an abortion drug, or to otherwise make an abortion drug available to a patient. (6) Unborn child The term unborn child means an individual organism of the species homo sapiens, beginning at fertilization, until the point of being born alive as defined in section 8(b). (d) Rule of construction regarding ectopic pregnancy Nothing in this section shall be construed to have any impact on the treatment of a verified ectopic pregnancy. (e) Severability If any provision of this section or the application of such provision to any person or circumstance is held to be invalid, the remainder of this section and the application of the provisions of the remainder to any person or circumstance shall not be affected thereby. . (b) Clerical amendments (1) Chapter 74 The table of sections for such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1531 the following: 1532. Chemical abortions prohibited without a healthcare provider physically present . (2) Part I The table of chapters for part I of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating to chapter 74 and inserting the following: 74. Abortions 1531 .