PRINTER'S NO. 2700

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

No. 2126 Session of 1980

        INTRODUCED BY KUKOVICH, HOEFFEL, COHEN, WACHOB, WHITE AND BROWN,
           JANUARY 16, 1980

        REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND WELFARE, JANUARY 16, 1980

                                     AN ACT

     1  Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania
     2     Consolidated Statutes, providing for offenses relating to
     3     birth defects.

     4     The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
     5  hereby enacts as follows:
     6     Section 1.  Title 18, act of November 25, 1970 (P.L.707,
     7  No.230), known as the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, is
     8  amended by adding a chapter to read:
     9                             CHAPTER 77
    10                          MEDICAL SERVICES
    11  Sec.
    12  7701.  Failure to inform of certain medical techniques relating
    13         to birth defects.
    14  § 7701.  Failure to inform of certain medical techniques
    15           relating to birth defects.
    16     (a)  Offense.--Any physician who willfully fails or refuses
    17  to inform a female patient of the availability of medical
    18  techniques which reduce the risk of birth defects, including,

     1  but not limited to, amniocentesis, shall be guilty of a
     2  misdemeanor of the third degree.
     3     (b)  License revocation.--A physician shall be subject to
     4  revocation of license upon a second conviction under this
     5  section.
     6     Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.
















    A11L21DGS/19800H2126B2700        - 2 -