PRINTER'S NO. 3539

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA


HOUSE BILL

No. 2709 Session of 1994


        INTRODUCED BY ADOLPH, MANDERINO, FICHTER, CESSAR, KUKOVICH,
           BELARDI, COY, LAUB, MIHALICH, TRELLO, PITTS, E. Z. TAYLOR,
           MILLER, CLARK, GIGLIOTTI, TRICH, BROWN, ROBINSON, McGEEHAN,
           CAWLEY, ROONEY, MELIO, RUBLEY, JOSEPHS, LAUGHLIN, DeLUCA,
           PETTIT, MICOZZIE, L. I. COHEN, KASUNIC, KENNEY, ULIANA,
           BURNS, STEELMAN, TOMLINSON, RICHARDSON, RUDY AND HENNESSEY,
           APRIL 13, 1994

        REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE, APRIL 13, 1994

                                     AN ACT

     1  Amending the act of December 18, 1984 (P.L.1068, No.213),
     2     entitled, as amended, "An act requiring physicians to obtain
     3     informed consent from patients for treatment of breast
     4     disease," expanding the act to cover breast reconstructive
     5     surgery; and conferring powers and duties on the Department
     6     of Health and the Legislative Reference Bureau.

     7     The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
     8  hereby enacts as follows:
     9     Section 1.  The title of the act of December 18, 1984
    10  (P.L.1068, No.213), entitled, as amended, "An act requiring
    11  physicians to obtain informed consent from patients for
    12  treatment of breast disease," amended October 9, 1986 (P.L.1417,
    13  No.131), is amended to read:
    14                               AN ACT
    15  Requiring physicians to obtain informed consent from patients
    16     for treatment of breast disease and for breast reconstructive
    17     surgery.


     1     Section 2.  The act is amended by adding a section to read:
     2     Section 1.1  (a)  Before a physician performs breast
     3  reconstructive surgery, the physician must obtain a summary and
     4  consent form under subsection (b) executed by the patient.
     5     (b)  The Department of Health shall develop a standardized
     6  summary and consent form in plain, nontechnical language
     7  explaining breast reconstructive surgery. The explanation shall
     8  include the use, characteristics, side effects and risks of
     9  breast implants and other pertinent information to aid a patient
    10  in deciding on a course of treatment. The Department of Health
    11  shall make the form available to physicians in this
    12  Commonwealth.
    13     Section 3.  When the form required by section 1.1(b) of the
    14  act is available, the Department of Health shall submit notice
    15  of availability to the Legislative Reference Bureau for
    16  publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
    17     Section 4.  This act shall take effect as follows:
    18         (1)  The addition of section 1.1(a) of the act shall take
    19     effect on the date of publication of the notice under section
    20     3 of this act.
    21         (2)  The remainder of this act shall take effect in 60
    22     days.






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