§453-16  Intentional termination of pregnancy; refusal to perform.  (a)  A licensed physician or surgeon or licensed osteopathic physician and surgeon may provide abortion care.  A licensed physician assistant may provide medication or aspiration abortion care in the first trimester of pregnancy.

     (b)  The State shall not deny or interfere with a pregnant person's right to choose to:

     (1)  Obtain an abortion; or

     (2)  Terminate a pregnancy if the termination is necessary to protect the life or health of the pregnant person.

     (c)  Nothing in this section shall require any hospital or any person to participate in an abortion nor shall any hospital or any person be liable for a refusal.

     (d)  For purposes of this section:

     "Abortion" means an intentional termination of the pregnancy of a nonviable fetus.

     "Nonviable fetus" means a fetus that does not have a reasonable likelihood of sustained survival outside of the uterus. [L 1970, c 1, §2; am L 2006, c 35, §2; am L 2008, c 5, §18; am L 2023, c 2, §2]

Attorney General Opinions

  Constitutionality of residence requirement discussed.  Att. Gen. Op. 70-2.

  The hospital requirement of subsection (a)(2) is not enforceable during the first trimester of pregnancy; subsection (a)(3) is unconstitutional and invalid.  Att. Gen. Op. 74-17.

Law Journals and Reviews

  The Abortion Decision and Evolving Limits on State Intervention.  11 HBJ 51 (1974).

  Emergency Contraception in Religious Hospitals:  The Struggle Between Religious Freedom and Personal Autonomy.  27 UH L. Rev. 65 (2004).

Case Notes

  Fetus in last trimester was vested with all rights of human beings.  751 F. Supp. 168 (1990).