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House approves narrower informed-consent changes for abortions, waiving video in limited cases
Summary
SB 71 clarifies informed-consent requirements by allowing clinicians to omit a mandated informational video and pamphlet when a woman's life is endangered or the fetus is uniformly diagnosed as nonviable; the House passed the measure after questions on consent preserved the requirement for patient consent.
The Utah House on March 12 passed Senate Bill 71, which clarifies when required informational materials and a video tied to abortion consent may be waived. Representative Ray, floor sponsor, told the chamber the change applies only when the mother’s life is at risk or the fetus is uniformly diagnosed as nonviable; in such cases the video and pamphlet requirement may be waived but other consent remains required.
Representative Red questioned whether the bill eliminated informed consent for therapeutic abortions; Representative Ray and subsequent floor colloquy clarified repeatedly that explicit consent from the woman is still required. Ray explained that in the two narrowly defined circumstances the additional video/pamphlet steps could be waived to avoid further trauma while still obtaining the patient’s informed consent and necessary physician approvals (including two physicians in maternal fetal medicine for certain cases).
The sponsor said the provision aligns statutory language with current medical practice and counseling in emergent or nonviable-fetus situations. With summation waived, the House approved SB 71 on final passage 63–8. The bill will be signed by the Speaker and returned to the Senate for the President’s signature and further processing.
