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2012 Statute



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65-6701. Definitions. As used in this act:

(a) "Abortion" means the use or prescription of any instrument, medicine, drug or any other substance or device to terminate the pregnancy of a woman known to be pregnant with an intention other than to increase the probability of a live birth, to preserve the life or health of the child after live birth, or to remove a dead unborn child who died as the result of natural causes in utero, accidental trauma or a criminal assault on the pregnant woman or her unborn child, and which causes the premature termination of the pregnancy.

(b) "Counselor" means a person who is: (1) Licensed to practice medicine and surgery; (2) licensed to practice psychology; (3) licensed to practice professional or practical nursing; (4) registered to practice professional counseling; (5) licensed as a social worker; (6) the holder of a master's or doctor's degree from an accredited graduate school of social work; (7) registered to practice marriage and family therapy; (8) a licensed physician assistant; or (9) a currently ordained member of the clergy or religious authority of any religious denomination or society. Counselor does not include the physician who performs or induces the abortion or a physician or other person who assists in performing or inducing the abortion.

(c) "Department" means the department of health and environment.

(d) "Gestational age" means the time that has elapsed since the first day of the woman's last menstrual period.

(e) "Medical emergency" means that condition which, on the basis of the physician's good faith clinical judgment, so complicates the medical condition of a pregnant woman as to necessitate the immediate abortion of her pregnancy to avert her death or for which a delay will create serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function.

(f) "Minor" means a person less than 18 years of age.

(g) "Physician" means a person licensed to practice medicine and surgery in this state.

(h) "Pregnant" or "pregnancy" means that female reproductive condition of having an unborn child in the mother's body.

(i) "Qualified person" means an agent of the physician who is a psychologist, licensed social worker, registered professional counselor, registered nurse or physician.

(j) "Unemancipated minor" means any minor who has never been: (1) Married; or (2) freed, by court order or otherwise, from the care, custody and control of the minor's parents.

(k) "Viable" means that stage of fetal development when it is the physician's judgment according to accepted obstetrical or neonatal standards of care and practice applied by physicians in the same or similar circumstances that there is a reasonable probability that the life of the child can be continued indefinitely outside the mother's womb with natural or artificial life-supportive measures.

History: L. 1992, ch. 183, § 1; L. 1997, ch. 190, § 26; L. 2000, ch. 162, § 25; L. 2011, ch. 44, § 3; July 1.



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