With the reversal of Roe v. Wade, Alabama is enforcing its 2019 ban of abortion. Abortion is no longer legal in Alabama. The informed consent laws are no longer applicable.

While no waiting period exists, patients in Alaska must engage in the informed consent process through Alaska’s Department of Health's website and print a signature page for submission to the clinic that acknowledges they have read the state-prepared materials before being permitted an abortion. The information provided on the website will also be discussed in person with the patient and doctor. Information included in the written materials pertains to various gestational periods of the fetus with associated characteristics from fertilization to 38 weeks of gestational age with options to view fetal images at every stage. Included information also concerns the risks of pregnancy, emotional and logistical information about carrying a pregnancy to term, the risks of drug use during pregnancy, the importance of establishing paternity, abortion methods and associated risks, the array of emotional reactions to abortion, and birth control methods. The information concludes with a directory of state-prepared resources regarding adoption and behavioral health services. Certain information on this informed consent website asserts the possibility of a breast cancer link, although it concedes that more research is required. Language may refer to the fetus as an “unborn child”. Informed consent is not requierd if the pregnancy was a result of sexual assault or incest.

Abortion in Arizona is banned after 15 weeks of pregnancy unless it is necessary to save the patient’s life. Arizona requires a waiting period of 24 hours during which patients will be offered a set of reading materials. The reading materials contain images for various gestational stages of the fetus and associated developmental characteristics for every two weeks of gestational age up to 40 weeks. The reading materials also cover the process of obtaining informed consent -- including the affirmation that the patient will receive counseling and an ultrasound -- along with information about abortion methods and associated complications. The materials also discuss the emotional reactions to abortion (although they heavily focus on the negative emotions), assert the possibility of infertility, include information about carrying a pregnancy to term, and conclude with information about child support and neonatal services with an offered directory. Much of this information will also be reasserted by a doctor. Medical information provided to patients also inaccurately asserts that a medical abortion can be reversed. An ultrasound must be performed in which patients are offered to view the image, hear an explanation of the sonogram, and listen to the fetal heartbeat. Arizona’s informed consent form requires the patient to guarantee they are not terminating the pregnancy because of the sex or race of the fetus. Language refers to the fetus as an “unborn child”.

With the reversal of Roe v. Wade, Arkansas has outlawed abortions performed within state lines. The informed consent laws are no longer applicable.

California does not require a waiting period, nor are there any state-prepared materials. By the discretion of the clinics, patients will be given information necessary to understand the mechanics of their medical procedure with the associated side effects and medical risks. Legislature indicates that the state may not interfere with a patient’s right to obtain an abortion prior to viability.

Colorado does not require a waiting period, nor are there any state-prepared materials. By discretion of the clinics, patients may be given information necessary to understand the mechanics of their medical procedure with the associated side effects and medical risks. Legislature indicates that the state may not interfere with a patient’s right to obtain an abortion prior to viability.

Connecticut does not require a waiting period, nor does the state require any specific disclosures mandated by law. That said, clinics will provide patients with information necessary to understand the mechanics of their medical procedure. Legislature indicates that the decision to terminate the pregnancy is solely that of the patient and the patient alone, provided that the physician deems it medically safe to perform the procedure.

Delaware does not require a waiting period, nor are there any state-prepared materials. By discretion of the clinics, patients may be given information necessary to understand the mechanics of their medical procedure with the associated side effects and medical risks. Legislature indicates that the state may not interfere with a patient’s right to obtain an abortion prior to viability.

After the reversal of Roe v. Wade, Florida has outlawed abortion performed 15 weeks after conception. Florida enforces a 24-hour waiting period. Patients must be offered state-prepared reading materials that discuss the gestational development of the fetus, accompanied by pictures at various stages of pregnancy, as well as a list of agencies offering support for alternatives to pregnancy, and detailed information about the medical assistance benefits for prenatal, neonatal and childbirth care. As part of the informed consent process, patients will be informed by the attending physician about the risks of the proposed abortion procedure. Doctors must perform an ultrasound and communicate the fetus’ gestational age to patients. Patients are offered a description of the ultrasound and an opportunity to view the image.

After the reversal of Roe v. Wade, Georgia is likely to enforce a ban on abortion 6 weeks after conception. Georgia requires a 24-hour waiting period, during which patients will be offered the opportunity to view state-prepared reading materials. The introduction to these reading materials restates Georgia’s law, which will be further reiterated in this section. This is followed by descriptions of the gestational development of the fetus, accompanied by pictures, for every two weeks until the end of the pregnancy. It also includes relevant information about the projected survival of the fetus at various stages of pregnancy. The reading materials transition into various abortion methods and their associated medical risks and side effects. In addition, the materials assert that the fetus is able to feel pain at 20 weeks gestation and that anesthesia is available for the fetus at this stage to alleviate such pain. Paternal responsibility and resources for medical assistance and for the alternatives to abortion, such as adoption and parenting, are provided. The materials focus on a range of emotional side effects, heavily focusing on the possibility of a negative psychological reaction. It is also suggested that counseling prior to an abortion might alleviate one’s stress. The reading materials end with the risks of carrying a pregnancy to term and a list of agencies that assist patients in their pregnancy. An additional list of agencies that provide alternatives to abortion is also available. Much of this information will be verbally reiterated by an attending physician. A sonogram must be performed in which the doctor offers the patient an opportunity to hear the fetal heartbeat and view sonogram images. Regardless, a doctor is required to tell a patient if there is a detectable fetal tone. Language may refer to the fetus as an “unborn child” and the pregnant patient as a “mother”.

Hawaii does not require a waiting period, nor does the state require any specific disclosures mandated by law. Patients will be given information necessary to understand the mechanics of their medical procedures. Legislature indicates that the decision to terminate the pregnancy is solely the patient’s, and the state may not pass legislation to interfere or deny a patient’s right to choose the outcome of a pregnancy.

With the reversal of Roe v. Wade, Idaho will imminently outlaw abortions performed within state lines (as of the date of this publication). The informed consent laws are no longer applicable.

Illinois does not require a waiting period. Patients will be given information necessary to understand the mechanics of their medical procedures by the clinics. The legislature indicates that the decision to terminate the pregnancy is solely up to the patient, and the state may not pass legislation to interfere or deny a patient’s right to choose the outcome of their pregnancy.

With the reversal of Roe v. Wade, Indiana has outlawed abortions performed within state lines. The informed consent laws are no longer applicable.

Iowa requires a 72-hour waiting period, during which patients will be given state prepared reading materials. The materials include an index of prenatal, adoption and childbirth services throughout the state. In addition, the materials will explain the benefits to adoption, and the materials will actively encourage the patient to consider adoption over abortion. The last component discusses the various abortion methods with their associated risks and side effects, as well as the possibility of “detrimental psychological effects” regarding abortion. Attending physicians are required to reiterate this information to patients, including descriptions of various risk factors -- physical, psychological, or situational -- that might increase the risk of negative outcomes to one’s abortion. Doctors must perform an ultrasound in which patients will be offered to view ultrasound images, hear a description of the ultrasound, and listen to the fetal tone. Language may refer to the fetus as an “unborn child” or a “child”. Abortion in Iowa is prohibited if there is a detectable fetal tone.

In 2019, Kansas ruled that their state constitution implies a right to abortion and cannot be overruled by lawmakers. However, the right to abortion could be removed from the state constitution by Kansas voters in early August if they so choose. Kansas requires a 24-hour waiting period, during which patients will be given a set of reading materials. The reading materials examine the developmental characteristics of a fetus, with images, staged at 2-week increments, until the pregnancy is full term. The materials also twice assert that “abortion terminates the life of a whole, separate, unique, living human being”. Various abortion methods and their associated medical risks and side effects are described. In particular, when talking about the method of abortion, the hysterotomy, it is stated that “the unborn child is killed in the uterus prior to removal”. The reading materials greatly exaggerate the proposed danger of infertility, the effects of future childbearing, and the increased risk of breast cancer. The materials only focus on the inaccurately high probability of negative psychological effects. The risks of carrying a pregnancy to term, the paternal responsibility, and the assertion of adoption as an alternative are also discussed. Attending physicians are required to give patients a directory of resources in Kansas that offer alternatives to abortion. This information will also be reiterated to the patient verbally. An ultrasound must be performed at least 30 minutes prior to the abortion, in which patients are offered an opportunity to view sonogram images and listen to the fetal heartbeat at no additional expense. Language in various resources may refer to the fetus as a “baby” or “unborn child”. Abortion based on gender is prohibited.

With the reversal of Roe v. Wade, Kentucky has outlawed abortions performed within state lines. The informed consent laws are no longer applicable.

With the reversal of Roe v. Wade, Louisiana has outlawed abortions performed within state lines. The informed consent laws are no longer applicable.

Maine affirms the right for patients to get abortions in their state legislature. Maine does not require a waiting period. Attending physicians are required to inform patients that they are a certain number of weeks pregnant, while also relaying information about proposed abortion methods and their associated risks. At the patient’s request, a resource directory of agencies that offer alternatives to abortion may be provided.

Maryland does not require a waiting period and does not have any state prepared materials. No specific disclosures are required; although attending physicians may provide patients with information about the directions for their abortion and the medical risks and side effects of their abortion procedure. The state legislature indicates that Maryland may not interfere with one’s decision to terminate a pregnancy before the fetus is viable, if the procedure necessitates a medical emergency, or if the fetus is affected by a fatal anomaly.

Massachusetts has an amendment to their constitution that affirms the right to get an abortion. Massachusetts does not require a waiting period and does not have state-prepared reading materials. Patients are required to sign an informed consent form that discusses the various abortion methods, with their associated side effects and possible complications, post-procedure care, alternative options (adoption and parenting), and the availability of public assistance. Medically-associated discussions of this information will also be reiterated to the patient by the doctor.

Michigan requires a 24-hour waiting period. The Michigan Health Department has created an online module that constitutes the informed consent process, ending with the signing of an informed consent document that is valid for 14 days upon its signature. The consent materials introduce extensive information and resources about how it is illegal to coerce a person into undergoing an abortion. The materials then present various methods of abortion with their medically-associated side effects and risks, maintaining the possibility of complications to future pregnancies. Psychological effects are discussed, acknowledging that negative emotional side effects are rare, but only listing the negatives nonetheless. This section concludes with a statement about resources that proffer alternatives to abortion. The materials then review gestational development with associated characteristics and images of the fetus at various stages and list agencies that supply free prenatal ultrasounds. The materials examine what a patient should expect when receiving prenatal treatment (hypothetically assuming that the patient is going to continue the pregnancy to full term), followed by parenting information that includes child developmental characteristics from birth through high school, state definitions of parenting, and general characteristics of the family. Attending physicians are required to verbally reiterate some of this information. The patient also is required to receive a list of adoption, prenatal and pregnancy-related services. If an ultrasound is performed at any time prior to the abortion, doctors must offer patients an opportunity to view the sonogram and receive a physical image of the ultrasound.

Minnesota has an amendment to their constitution that affirms the right to get an abortion. Minnesota requires a 24-hour waiting period, during which the patient will be offered state-prepared reading materials. The introduction to the reading materials review various legal requirements, which will be illuminated later in this section. The materials then examine the process of conception and the gestational development characteristics of the fetus, accompanied by pictures, every two weeks up until 40 weeks of pregnancy. In this section, it is characteristically unclear as to when the state asserts that the fetus begins to feel pain, but the state is sure to emphasize that a fetus may display certain pain-avoiding characteristics at certain points in the pregnancy. The materials scrutinize methods of abortion with their various side effects and medical risks, maintaining the possibility of complications in future pregnancies. The materials correctly claim there should be no drastic effects on fertility, future childbearing, and the materials posit that breast cancer is not associated with an abortion. Only the negative emotional complications, as well as the assertion that one should talk to a counselor before having an abortion, are analyzed. The reading materials close with proposed risks of childbearing, paternal responsibilities, adoption as an alternative, and an information directory containing contacts for childcare and adoptive services able to assist patients. Attending physicians are required to verbally deliver an overview of the above information. If the patient’s fetus has a certain anomaly, the physician must inform the patient of the availability of perinatal hospice services, and the patient must either consent or decline these services as an integral step to the informed consent process. In addition, if the patient’s pregnancy is over 20 weeks of gestational age, the doctor must inform the patient of the effectiveness of a fetal anesthetic to alleviate supposed fetal pain). If the patient has a fetus with an anomaly, the doctor must provide information on perinatal hospice services or adoptive services and offer these options as an alternative to abortion. Language may refer to the fetus as an “unborn child”.

With the reversal of Roe v. Wade, Mississippi has outlawed abortions performed within state lines. The informed consent laws are no longer applicable.

With the reversal of Roe v. Wade, Missouri has outlawed abortions performed within state lines. The informed consent laws are no longer applicable.

Montana requires a 24-hour waiting period for informed consent. The waiting period is extended to 72 hours if a patient elects to receive their reading materials by mail. The reading materials include an index of agencies that offer an alternative to abortion. Attending physicians are required to inform patients of the gestational age of the fetus and proposed medical risks of abortion, including the risk of breast cancer, danger to subsequent pregnancies, and the possibility of infertility. Physicians must also disclose the risks of continuing the pregnancy, alternatives to abortion, paternal responsibilities, and must offer the state prepared reading materials. The reading materials examine the gestational development at two-week increments with drawings, including information about the viability of the fetus at various stages, the possible “detrimental” psychological effects to abortion and adoption, and the risks of carrying a fetus to term. A directory of abortion alternatives will also be provided. Language may refer to the fetus as an “unborn child”.

Nebraska requires a waiting period of 24 hours, during which patients are offered the opportunity to review state prepared materials. The materials begin by examining gestational characteristics, accompanied by images of the fetus at various pregnancy stages with information about fetal survival where applicable. The book transitions into guidelines for a healthy pregnancy. The various abortion methods with their medically-associated side effects and risks are analyzed, including the possibility of a reversal of a medical abortion. The doctor is also required to reiterate that a patient may seek to reverse their abortion if the only the first of the two pills in the medical-abortion regimin has been taken. The materials only focus on the negative complications of abortion, followed by the subsequent dangers of multiple abortions on fertility and carrying a pregnancy to term. Complications to continuing a pregnancy, including psychological complications, conclude the booklet. Patients may also review an index of prenatal, childbirth, and adoption services the state prepared as alternatives to abortion, as well as a secondary list of services to consult about abortion reversals. One hour prior to the abortion, an attending physician must inform the patient about their various risk factors of the procedure, which may include physical, psychological or situational risks. The physician will also ask the patient to ensure that they are not feeling pressured into having an abortion. The physician will inform the patient that terminating a pregnancy presents a higher risk of mental and physical complications than if the patient were to choose to continue the pregnancy. A required ultrasound displays fetal images to the patient while an attendant explains the images and offers the opportunity to hear the fetal tone. Patients are often unaware of their right to decline sensory engagement with the ultrasound. Language may refer to the fetus as an “unborn child”.

Nevada does not require a waiting period and does not have any state-prepared reading materials. The doctor is required to disclose to the patient a certification of pregnancy and by how many weeks, as well as information regarding medical procedures, side effects and risks associated with abortion. The patient will be required to sign a form indicating that they have been given this information by the doctor.

New Hampshire does not require a waiting period, nor are there any state-prepared materials. By discretion of the clinics, patients may be given information necessary to understand the mechanics of their medical procedure with the associated side effects and medical risks.

New Jersey has an amendment to their state constitution that protects the right to abortion. New Jersey does not require a waiting period, nor are there any state-prepared materials. By discretion of the clinics, patients may be given information necessary to understand the mechanics of their medical procedure with the associated side effects and medical risks.

New Mexico does not require a waiting period, nor are there any state-prepared materials. By discretion of the clinics, patients may be given information necessary to understand the mechanics of their medical procedure with the associated side effects and medical risks.

New York has passed the New York Reproductive Health Act, which protects the right to abortion. New York does not require a waiting period, nor are there any state-prepared materials. By discretion of the clinics, patients may be given information necessary to understand the mechanics of their medical procedure with the associated side effects and medical risks. Legislature indicates that the state may not interfere with a patient’s right to choose to obtain an abortion prior to viability.

North Carolina requires a 72-hour waiting period, during which patients are offered the opportunity to view state-prepared materials. The materials begin by examining gestational characteristics at certain stages of pregnancy, as well as images that accompany the descriptions. The different abortion methods with their associated medical risks and side effects are contrasted, including a convoluted description of the increased risk of premature births in future pregnancies. The materials assert the possibility of depression as a long-lasting side effect to abortion as part of the legislature’s mandate to include “possible detrimental psychological effects” to abortion. The materials advocate for the use of birth control while supplying an index of pregnancy outreaches, adoption services, and medical assistance programs designed to help patients continue their pregnancy. The attending physician is required to reiterate this information to the patient, including more detailed information about the alternatives to abortion. The doctor must also provide a list of providers of free ultrasounds and fetal tone services. If a doctor does not have admitting privileges to a local hospital, that information must be communicated to the patient. At least 4 hours before the abortion is performed, the doctor must perform an ultrasound, must display the image in view of the patient (although the patient may avert their eyes), play the fetal tone if present, and provide a simultaneous description of the image. Language may refer to the fetus as an “unborn child,” a “child” or a “baby”.

With the reversal of Roe v. Wade, North Dakota has outlawed abortions performed within state lines. The informed consent laws are no longer applicable.

With the reversal of Roe v. Wade, Ohio has outlawed abortions performed within state lines. The informed consent laws are no longer applicable.

With the reversal of Roe v. Wade, Oklahoma has outlawed abortions performed within state lines. The informed consent laws are no longer applicable.

Oregon has passed post-Roe safe haven legislation that protects the right to abortion. Oregon does not require a waiting period, nor are there any state-prepared materials. By discretion of the clinics, patients may be given information necessary to understand the mechanics of their medical procedure with associated side effects and medical risks.

Pennsylvania requires a waiting period of 24 hours, during which patients are given state prepared reading materials. The materials examine gestational characteristics, accompanied by pictures of the fetus, of every two weeks of gestation up to 40 weeks. Included also is any relevant information regarding the fetus’ chance of survival outside the womb. Various abortion methods are considered, including their medically-associated risks and side effects, as well as the medically-associated risks of carrying the fetus to term. The materials also discuss the “possible detrimental psychological effects” to abortion. Offered to the patient, along with these materials, is a list of services that offer prenatal, neonatal and adoption care. An attending physician will reiterate these things to the patient verbally, and the doctor will also explore the medical assistance benefits that may be available for childcare, including paternal responsibility. The patient must sign a form indicating they received this information and were offered the chance to review the materials as part of the informed consent process. Language in state legislation may refer to the fetus as an “unborn child.”

Rhode Island has passed the Reproductive Privacy Act, which protects the right to abortion. Rhode Island does not require a waiting period. The patient must be informed of the estimated gestational age of the fetus, the medical nature of the abortion and its appropriate side effects and risks, and any other information the doctor deems necessary for an informed consent. Patients are required to sign consent forms containing a reiteration of the verbal disclosures.

South Carolina requires a waiting period of 24 hours, during which patients will be offered the opportunity to review the state-prepared reading materials and a list of agencies that offer information on alternatives to abortion. The materials examine the system of human genetics, the gestational characteristics of the fetus every two weeks of gestation up to 40 weeks, the risks of carrying a pregnancy to term, the methods of abortion, and their associated risks and side effects. (Third-trimester abortions, if performed for a medical emergency, require both the consent of the patient and, if married, their spouse.) This information will also be verbally reiterated to the patient by a doctor. Although the state does not mandate that ultrasounds are performed at every abortion, if one is performed, the patient must be offered the opportunity to view the image. In addition, if an ultrasound is performed, the abortion may not start sooner than 60 minutes after the completion of the ultrasound.

With the reversal of Roe v. Wade, South Dakota has outlawed abortions performed within state lines. The informed consent laws are no longer applicable.

With the reversal of Roe v. Wade, Tennessee has outlawed abortions performed within state lines. The informed consent laws are no longer applicable.

With the reversal of Roe v. Wade, Texas has outlawed abortions performed within state lines. The informed consent laws are no longer applicable.

With the reversal of Roe v. Wade, Utah has outlawed abortions performed within state lines. The informed consent laws are no longer applicable.

Vermont does not have a waiting period or state prepared reading materials. Vermont does not require by law any special disclosures that are specific to abortions in order to obtain informed consent. The doctor may still provide information to the patient regarding the specific medical procedure and the risks and side effects one should expect. State legislature guarantees that the government may not pass laws that inhibit one’s ability to choose to terminate a pregnancy.

Virginia does not require a waiting period, but patients may be given a small pamphlet about informed consent. This pamphlet will discuss the risks of continuing a pregnancy, the process of different types of abortions with their associated medical risks, and the accurate assertion that a legal abortion for an unwanted pregnancy does not pose a psychological hazard in most cases. The informed consent forms are required to contain information about the various abortion procedures and their proposed side effects and medical risks, an alternative to abortion, benefits to abortion, along with a discussion of various legal disclosures.

Washington requires no waiting period. Washington will not impose any mandatory prerequisite procedures or informed consent practices onto their patients outside the normal, medically-accurate consent to the abortion. Legislature asserts that the state shall not enact any law that prohibits a patient’s ability to terminate their pregnancy, and, in the future, if the state provides resources about alternatives to abortion, they also must provide equally-substantial information on how to obtain abortion resources, as well.

West Virginia requires a 24-waiting period, during which patients will be offered state-prepared reading materials. The introduction of the materials outlines the summary of the booklet, the state’s various laws, as well as the availability of an index of adoption and pregnancy-related services. The booklet examines gestational characteristics of the fetus at various stages of development, including information about the survival of the fetus when applicable. Abortion methods and their associated medical risks and side effects are analyzed. The book transitions into discussing the possible psychological effects of abortion, exaggerating and misappropriating the negative psychological effects. The risks associated with childbirth are discussed, asserting the possibility of postpartum depression. The booklet concludes with information regarding the financial assistance available for prenatal and childbirth services. Attending physicians are required, as stated in West Virginia’s legislature, to reiterate this information to the patient, including with their summary information about “danger to subsequent pregnancies and infertility” and agencies that offer alternatives to abortion. West Virginia states that it is the patient’s decision, in consultation with their physician, if they wish to undergo an ultrasound.If an ultrasound is performed, the patient must be offered the opportunity to view the ultrasound. Language may refer to the fetus as an “unborn child,” a “child,” or a “baby”.

No abortion clinic or medical center in Wisconsin is currently offering abortions after the fall of Roe v. Wade . The legality of pregnancy termination procedures in Wisconsin will be decided in the next legislative session.

With the reversal of Roe v. Wade, Wyoming has outlawed abortions performed within state lines. The informed consent laws are no longer applicable.