{"data":{"id":"us-ar/ark.-code-ann.-20-16-2302","jurisdiction":"us-ar","citation":"Ark. Code Ann. § 20-16-2302","heading":"Legislative findings and purpose","body":"(a) The General Assembly finds that: (1) As diagnosis of prenatal conditions improves, more lethal fetal anomalies are diagnosed earlier in pregnancy; (2) (A) Currently, parents are often given minimal options. (B) Parents must choose between terminating the pregnancy or simply waiting for the child to die; (3) The majority of parents in the situation described in subdivision (a)(2) of this section choose to terminate the pregnancy, with only twenty percent (20%) of parents deciding to continue the pregnancy; (4) Studies indicate that choosing to terminate a pregnancy can pose severe long-term psychological risks for a woman, including the risk of post-traumatic stress, depression, and anxiety; (5) Parents who choose to continue the pregnancy under the supportive, compassionate care of a perinatal palliative care team report being emotionally and spiritually prepared for the birth of a child; and (6) Studies reveal that when given the option, at least eighty to eighty-seven percent (80-87%) of parents choose to continue their pregnancies in a supportive environment of perinatal palliative care. (b) It is the purpose of this subchapter to: (1) Guarantee that a woman considering an abortion after a diagnosis of a lethal fetal anomaly is presented with information on the option of perinatal palliative care; and (2) Ensure that any abortion choice that a woman makes has been fully informed. Acts 2019, No. 953, § 1, eff. 7/24/2020.\n\n(a) The General Assembly finds that: (1) As diagnosis of prenatal conditions improves, more lethal fetal anomalies are diagnosed earlier in pregnancy; (2) (A) Currently, parents are often given minimal options. (B) Parents must choose between terminating the pregnancy or simply waiting for the child to die; (3) The majority of parents in the situation described in subdivision (a)(2) of this section choose to terminate the pregnancy, with only twenty percent (20%) of parents deciding to continue the pregnancy; (4) Studies indicate that choosing to terminate a pregnancy can pose severe long-term psychological risks for a woman, including the risk of post-traumatic stress, depression, and anxiety; (5) Parents who choose to continue the pregnancy under the supportive, compassionate care of a perinatal palliative care team report being emotionally and spiritually prepared for the birth of a child; and (6) Studies reveal that when given the option, at least eighty to eighty-seven percent (80-87%) of parents choose to continue their pregnancies in a supportive environment of perinatal palliative care.\n\n(1) As diagnosis of prenatal conditions improves, more lethal fetal anomalies are diagnosed earlier in pregnancy;\n\n(2) (A) Currently, parents are often given minimal options. (B) Parents must choose between terminating the pregnancy or simply waiting for the child to die;\n\n(A) Currently, parents are often given minimal options.\n\n(B) Parents must choose between terminating the pregnancy or simply waiting for the child to die;\n\n(3) The majority of parents in the situation described in subdivision (a)(2) of this section choose to terminate the pregnancy, with only twenty percent (20%) of parents deciding to continue the pregnancy;\n\n(4) Studies indicate that choosing to terminate a pregnancy can pose severe long-term psychological risks for a woman, including the risk of post-traumatic stress, depression, and anxiety;\n\n(5) Parents who choose to continue the pregnancy under the supportive, compassionate care of a perinatal palliative care team report being emotionally and spiritually prepared for the birth of a child; and\n\n(6) Studies reveal that when given the option, at least eighty to eighty-seven percent (80-87%) of parents choose to continue their pregnancies in a supportive environment of perinatal palliative care.\nnts who choose to continue the pregnancy under the supportive, compassionate care of a perinatal palliative care team report being emotionally and spiritually prepared for the birth of a child; and\n\n(6) Studies reveal that when given the option, at least eighty to eighty-seven percent (80-87%) of parents choose to continue their pregnancies in a supportive environment of perinatal palliative care.\n\n(b) It is the purpose of this subchapter to: (1) Guarantee that a woman considering an abortion after a diagnosis of a lethal fetal anomaly is presented with information on the option of perinatal palliative care; and (2) Ensure that any abortion choice that a woman makes has been fully informed.\n\n(1) Guarantee that a woman considering an abortion after a diagnosis of a lethal fetal anomaly is presented with information on the option of perinatal palliative care; and\n\n(2) Ensure that any abortion choice that a woman makes has been fully informed.","path":["AR Code","Title 20","Chapter 16","Subchapter 23"],"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":"fe61ecef09c2eef4e81bd08a2a940ff814189e91baaaa8f6861f4af5eb8422b2","source_id":"us-ar","stale":false,"prev":"us-ar/ark.-code-ann.-20-16-2301","next":"us-ar/ark.-code-ann.-20-16-2303"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}