Woman's Right to Know 2006 through 2013 summary report

Woman's Right to Know 2006 through 2013 Summary Report June, 2014
Background and Requirements
The "Woman's Right to Know Act was enacted into law and became effective as of July 1, 2005. The Act requires that: Physicians offer women seeking abortions information about issues such as a description of abortion
procedures; medical risks associated with abortion and childbirth; and a description of fetal development at two-week intervals.
Physicians offer women information about public and private services available to assist throughout pregnancy, upon child birth, and while the child is dependent, including adoption agencies.
Minors must either be accompanied by a parent or guardian with proper identification or a minor's parent or guardian must be notified in person, by telephone, or by mail at least 24 hours prior to the abortion being performed.
Physicians must complete an annual web-based report on their compliance with the informed consent and parental notification portions of this law and submit the information to DPH. DPH must publish a report which aggregates physician response.
A CD ROM with all materials was mailed to approximately 27,500 physicians in 2006.
Calendar year 2006 is the first reporting year under the law.
Data have been extracted and a report developed. Key findings are provided below.
Findings from Calendar Years 2006-2012 (Aggregate Data)
Parental Notification/Consent (this data pertains only to unemancipated minors under the age of 18 seeking an abortion)
Physicians and facilities reported that 11,283 unemancipated minors, under the age of 18 years had a parent, guardian, appointed guardian or conservator who was provided at least 24 hours notice by the physician or qualified agent that an abortion is to be performed upon the minor, including the name and address of the place where the abortion will be performed.
Reporting was incomplete on how notification was provided. At least 859 notices were provided in person, and at least 11 were reportedly provided by certified mail.
Physicians and facilities reported that of the 11,283 unemancipated minors whose parent, guardian, appointed guardian or conservator was provided notification, to the best of their knowledge, at least 1,737 went on to obtain an abortion.
Physicians and facilities reported that they received 4,366 written certifications from parents, guardians, appointed guardians or conservators acknowledging that they had been previously informed that minor was seeking an abortion and certified that the abortion may proceed.
Physicians and facilities reported that they received 58 written certifications from parents, guardians, appointed guardians or conservators acknowledging that they had not been previously informed that minor was seeking an abortion and certified that the abortion may proceed.

Physicians and facilities reported that for 50 females they performed an abortion without providing notice to the parent, guardian, appointed guardian or conservator that an abortion was to be performed on the minor because the minor filed a petition for waiver of requirements.
Informed Consent (this data pertains to all females seeking an abortion)
Physicians reported that 156,645 females were provided information, 24 hours before the abortion, concerning the medical risks associated with abortion procedure to be employed when medically accurate; the probable gestational age of the unborn child at the time the abortion is to be performed and the medical risk associated with carrying the unborn child to term.
Physicians reported that there were 231,406 females to whom the physician or qualified agent provided information indicating that medical assistance benefits may be available for prenatal care, childbirth and neonatal care; that the father will be liable to assist in the support of her child; and that she has the right to review printed materials that describe the unborn child, list agencies that provide alternatives to abortion, and contain information on fetal pain, and that these materials are available on a state sponsored website.
Physicians reported that to the best of their knowledge, 107,167 females went on to obtain an abortion.
Physicians reported that 237,700 females were provided the opportunity to view the fetal image and/or hear the fetal heartbeat, if present.*
Of this total, physicians reported that 68,581 females elected to view sonogram and/or hear the fetal heartbeat, if present. *
Females who were given the opportunity to both view the fetal sonogram and listen to the fetal heartbeat may be the same group of women and thus accounted for twice in this total.
Females who elected to both view the fetal sonogram and listen to the fetal heartbeat may be the same group of women and thus accounted for twice in this total.
* Questions new for 2008.
Note: The method by which select elements were being reported was changed/corrected in 2014. This change applies to 2013 data only and may not reflect in multi-year reports.