{"data":{"id":"us-ar/ark.-code-ann.-20-16-1305","jurisdiction":"us-ar","citation":"Ark. Code Ann. § 20-16-1305","heading":"Exemptions - Medical personnel","body":"(a) A person does not violate this subchapter if the person: (1) Performs a medical procedure designed to or intended to prevent the death of a pregnant woman or in reasonable medical judgment to preserve the life of the pregnant woman; (2) (A) Has undertaken an examination for the presence of a heartbeat in the fetus utilizing standard medical practice; and (B) The examination does not reveal a heartbeat; or (3) Has been informed by a medical professional who has undertaken the examination for fetal heartbeat that the examination did not reveal a fetal heartbeat. (b) This subchapter does not apply to: (1) An abortion performed to save the life of the mother; (2) (A) A pregnancy that results from rape under § 5-14-103 or incest under § 5-26-202 when documentation is presented that states that the crime has been reported to law enforcement. (B) The physician or abortion facility shall: (i) File the documentation that a crime has been reported to law enforcement in the pregnant woman's medical record; and (ii) Report to the Department of Health the number of abortions performed because of rape or incest; or (3) A medical emergency. Amended by Act 2021, No. 787,§ 4, eff. 7/28/2021. Added by Act 2013, No. 301,§ 1, eff. 8/16/2013.\n\n(a) A person does not violate this subchapter if the person: (1) Performs a medical procedure designed to or intended to prevent the death of a pregnant woman or in reasonable medical judgment to preserve the life of the pregnant woman; (2) (A) Has undertaken an examination for the presence of a heartbeat in the fetus utilizing standard medical practice; and (B) The examination does not reveal a heartbeat; or (3) Has been informed by a medical professional who has undertaken the examination for fetal heartbeat that the examination did not reveal a fetal heartbeat.\n\n(1) Performs a medical procedure designed to or intended to prevent the death of a pregnant woman or in reasonable medical judgment to preserve the life of the pregnant woman;\n\n(2) (A) Has undertaken an examination for the presence of a heartbeat in the fetus utilizing standard medical practice; and (B) The examination does not reveal a heartbeat; or\n\n(A) Has undertaken an examination for the presence of a heartbeat in the fetus utilizing standard medical practice; and\n\n(B) The examination does not reveal a heartbeat; or\n\n(3) Has been informed by a medical professional who has undertaken the examination for fetal heartbeat that the examination did not reveal a fetal heartbeat.\n\n(b) This subchapter does not apply to: (1) An abortion performed to save the life of the mother; (2) (A) A pregnancy that results from rape under § 5-14-103 or incest under § 5-26-202 when documentation is presented that states that the crime has been reported to law enforcement. (B) The physician or abortion facility shall: (i) File the documentation that a crime has been reported to law enforcement in the pregnant woman's medical record; and (ii) Report to the Department of Health the number of abortions performed because of rape or incest; or (3) A medical emergency.\n\n(1) An abortion performed to save the life of the mother;\ne crime has been reported to law enforcement. (B) The physician or abortion facility shall: (i) File the documentation that a crime has been reported to law enforcement in the pregnant woman's medical record; and (ii) Report to the Department of Health the number of abortions performed because of rape or incest; or (3) A medical emergency.\n\n(1) An abortion performed to save the life of the mother;\n\n(2) (A) A pregnancy that results from rape under § 5-14-103 or incest under § 5-26-202 when documentation is presented that states that the crime has been reported to law enforcement. (B) The physician or abortion facility shall: (i) File the documentation that a crime has been reported to law enforcement in the pregnant woman's medical record; and (ii) Report to the Department of Health the number of abortions performed because of rape or incest; or\n\n(A) A pregnancy that results from rape under § 5-14-103 or incest under § 5-26-202 when documentation is presented that states that the crime has been reported to law enforcement.\n\n(B) The physician or abortion facility shall: (i) File the documentation that a crime has been reported to law enforcement in the pregnant woman's medical record; and (ii) Report to the Department of Health the number of abortions performed because of rape or incest; or\n\n(i) File the documentation that a crime has been reported to law enforcement in the pregnant woman's medical record; and\n\n(ii) Report to the Department of Health the number of abortions performed because of rape or incest; or\n\n(3) A medical emergency.","path":["AR Code","Title 20","Chapter 16","Subchapter 13"],"source_url":"https://oss-data-us.vaquill.ai/v2026.08/us_ar_statutes.parquet","current_through":"2026-08-14","vintage":"open-us-law v2026.08, retrieved 2026-09-14","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T18:32:41Z","sha256":"86921ed8a97f9340cd41a0c228a588e30de94745204bab2d52dc65800b6dd8dd","source_id":"us-ar","stale":false,"prev":"us-ar/ark.-code-ann.-20-16-1304","next":"us-ar/ark.-code-ann.-20-16-1306"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}