Florida Statutes 390.01112 – Termination of pregnancies during viability
Current as of: 2023 | Check for updates
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(1) No termination of pregnancy shall be performed on any human being if the physician determines that, in reasonable medical judgment, the fetus has achieved viability, unless:
(a) Two physicians certify in writing that, in reasonable medical judgment, the termination of the pregnancy is necessary to save the pregnant woman’s life or avert a serious risk of substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman other than a psychological condition; or
Terms Used In Florida Statutes 390.01112
- Physician: means a physician licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 459 or a physician practicing medicine or osteopathic medicine in the employment of the United States. See Florida Statutes 390.011
- Reasonable medical judgment: means a medical judgment that would be made by a reasonably prudent physician, knowledgeable about the case and the treatment possibilities with respect to the medical conditions involved. See Florida Statutes 390.011
- viability: means the stage of fetal development when the life of a fetus is sustainable outside the womb through standard medical measures. See Florida Statutes 390.011
- writing: includes handwriting, printing, typewriting, and all other methods and means of forming letters and characters upon paper, stone, wood, or other materials. See Florida Statutes 1.01
(b) The physician certifies in writing that, in reasonable medical judgment, there is a medical necessity for legitimate emergency medical procedures for termination of the pregnancy to save the pregnant woman’s life or avert a serious risk of imminent substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman other than a psychological condition, and another physician is not available for consultation.
(2) Before performing a termination of pregnancy, a physician must determine if the fetus is viable by, at a minimum, performing a medical examination of the pregnant woman and, to the maximum extent possible through reasonably available tests and the ultrasound required under s. 390.0111(3), an examination of the fetus. The physician must document in the pregnant woman’s medical file the physician’s determination and the method, equipment, fetal measurements, and any other information used to determine the viability of the fetus.
(3) If a termination of pregnancy is performed during viability, the physician performing the termination of pregnancy must exercise the same degree of professional skill, care, and diligence to preserve the life and health of the fetus that the physician would be required to exercise in order to preserve the life and health of a fetus intended to be born and not aborted. However, if preserving the life and health of the fetus conflicts with preserving the life and health of the woman, the physician must consider preserving the woman’s life and health the overriding and superior concern.