191.320. Genetic diagnostic and counseling services to be established--outreach centers, duties--referral for abortion, procedure, requirements. - Missouri Statutes

Genetic diagnostic and counseling services to be established--outreachcenters, duties--referral for abortion, procedure, requirements.

191.320. The department may contract with tertiary geneticcenters to provide genetic diagnostic and counseling services, toinitiate and conduct investigations of the causes, mortality,methods of treatment, prevention and cure of genetic disordersand related birth defects, and to develop and administer programsand activities which aid in the prevention or treatment of aparticular genetic disorder. It may establish outreach clinicsto be located throughout the state. The department may dividethe state into regions for this purpose. The boundaries of suchregions, to the extent practicable, shall be contiguous withrelevant boundaries of political subdivisions and health serviceareas. These centers and clinics may provide genetic diagnosticevaluations, treatment, counseling and follow-up for familieswith or at high risk for a genetic disease, such as sickle cellanemia, cystic fibrosis, inherited cardiovascular disease,inherited forms of mental retardations, or hemophilia, providedthat such evaluations, treatment, and counseling shall notinclude referral for abortions unless such abortions arecertified in writing by a physician that, in his professionaljudgment, the life of the mother would be endangered if the fetuswere carried to term.

(L. 1985 H.B. 612 § 191.320 subsec. 1)