13-3603.01. Partial-birth abortions; classification; civil action; definitions

543 words·~2 min read·/az/title-13/13-3603-01

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

A. Any physician who knowingly performs a partial-birth abortion and thereby kills a human fetus is guilty of a class 6 felony and shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both.

B. This section does not apply to a partial-birth abortion that is necessary to save the life of a mother whose life is endangered by a physical disorder, physical illness or physical injury, including a life-endangering physical condition caused by or arising from the pregnancy itself.

C. The father of the fetus if married to the mother at the time she receives a partial-birth abortion procedure and the maternal grandparents of the fetus if the mother is not at least eighteen years of age at the time of the partial-birth abortion may bring a civil action to obtain appropriate relief unless the pregnancy resulted from the plaintiff's criminal conduct or the plaintiff consented to the partial-birth abortion. Relief pursuant to this subsection includes the following:

1. Money damages for all injuries, psychological and physical, resulting from the violation of this section.

2. Statutory damages in an amount equal to three times the cost of the partial-birth abortion.

D. This section shall not subject a woman upon whom a partial-birth abortion is performed to any criminal prosecution or civil liability.

E. A defendant who is accused of an offense under this section may seek a hearing before the Arizona medical board if the defendant is licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 13 or the Arizona board of osteopathic examiners in medicine and surgery if the defendant is licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 17 on whether the physician's conduct was necessary to save the life of the mother whose life was endangered by a physical disorder, physical illness or physical injury, including a life-endangering physical condition caused by or arising from the pregnancy itself.

The findings on that issue are admissible, in the court's discretion, on that issue at the trial of the defendant. On a motion of the defendant, the court shall, in its discretion, delay the beginning of the trial for not more than thirty days to permit a hearing to take place.

F. For the purposes of this section:

1. "Partial-birth abortion" means an abortion in which the person performing the abortion does both of the following:

(a)Deliberately and intentionally vaginally delivers a living fetus until, in the case of a headfirst presentation, the entire fetal head is outside the body of the mother or, in the case of breech presentation, any part of the fetal trunk past the naval is outside the body of the mother for the purpose of performing an overt act that the person knows will kill the partially delivered living fetus.

(b)Performs the overt act, other than completion of delivery, that kills the partially delivered living fetus.

2. "Physician" means a doctor of medicine or a doctor of osteopathy who is licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 13 or 17 or any other individual legally authorized by this state to perform abortions. Any individual who is not a physician or who is not otherwise legally authorized by this state to perform abortions but who nevertheless directly performs a partial-birth abortion shall be subject to this section.