1. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:

 a. “Abortion” means abortion as defined in section 146.1.
 b. “Fetus” means a human fetus.
 c. “Partial-birth abortion” means an abortion in which a person partially vaginally delivers a living fetus before killing the fetus and completing the delivery.
 d. “Vaginally delivers a living fetus before killing the fetus” means deliberately and intentionally delivering into the vagina a living fetus or a substantial portion of a living fetus for the purpose of performing a procedure the person knows will kill the fetus, and then killing the fetus.

Attorney's Note

Under the Iowa Code, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
Class C felonyup to 10 yearsbetween $1,370 and $13,660
For details, see Iowa Code902.9
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Terms Used In Iowa Code 707.8A

  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • following: when used by way of reference to a chapter or other part of a statute mean the next preceding or next following chapter or other part. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • person: means individual, corporation, limited liability company, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership or association, or any other legal entity. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
 2. A person shall not knowingly perform or attempt to perform a partial-birth abortion. This prohibition shall not apply to a partial-birth abortion that is necessary to save the life of the mother whose life is endangered by a physical disorder, physical illness, or physical injury.
 3. This section shall not be construed to create a right to an abortion.
 4. a. The mother on whom a partial-birth abortion is performed, the father of the fetus, or, if the mother is less than eighteen years of age or unmarried at the time of the partial-birth abortion, a maternal grandparent of the fetus may bring an action against a person violating subsection 2 to obtain appropriate relief, unless the pregnancy resulted from the plaintiff‘s criminal conduct or the plaintiff consented to the partial-birth abortion.

 b. In an action brought under this subsection, appropriate relief may include any of the following:

 (1) Statutory damages which are equal to three times the cost of the partial-birth abortion.
 (2) Compensatory damages for all injuries, psychological and physical, resulting from violation of subsection 2.
 5. A person who violates subsection 2 is guilty of a class “C” felony.
 6. A mother upon whom a partial-birth abortion is performed shall not be prosecuted for violation of subsection 2 or for conspiracy to violate subsection 2.
 7. a. A licensed physician subject to the authority of the board of medicine who is accused of a violation of subsection 2 may seek a hearing before the board on whether the physician’s conduct was necessary to save the life of the mother whose life was endangered by a physical disorder, physical illness, or physical injury.

 b. The board’s findings concerning the physician’s conduct are admissible at the criminal trial of the physician. Upon a motion of the physician, the court shall delay the beginning of the trial for not more than thirty days to permit the hearing before the board of medicine to take place.