HB 18-1082

HB 18-1082, known as "A Woman's Right To Accurate Health Care Information," ensures that women receive comprehensive and accurate information about their pregnancies and health care options. The bill allows women to choose whether they want to see an ultrasound of their pregnancy or not, and it gives them the option to select between different types of ultrasounds (abdominal or vaginal). It also requires abortion providers to give detailed information at least 24 hours before the procedure and for patients to acknowledge receipt of this information. The bill has been signed into law, meaning these requirements are now enforceable by civil actions, professional conduct reviews, and criminal penalties for non-compliance. This affects women seeking medical care or abortions in Colorado.

Official Summary

The bill ensures that women are fully and accurately informed about their personal medical conditions regarding their pregnancies and health care options. Current medical procedures already use ultrasound technology to provide information regarding the gestational age of a child in utero. The bill ensures that a woman has the opportunity to see or forego seeing her ultrasound. The bill gives the woman a choice between an abdominal or vaginal ultrasound. The bill allows a woman the opportunity to find a provider of ultrasound technology that will provide the service free of charge. The bill requires that a woman be given full and accurate information regarding her abortion. The bill describes the information that the physician performing the abortion provides to the woman and gives the woman an opportunity to sign or refuse to sign a receipt of information. The bill requires the abortion provider to provide certain information to the woman at least 24 hours prior to performing an abortion. The bill creates a civil right of action for noncompliance with the requirements, making a physician's noncompliance with the requirements unprofessional conduct and making a violation of the requirements a crime. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.) , Read More