191.923. Prenatally diagnosed conditions, patient to be provided information--definitions--clearinghouse of information to be established. - Missouri Statutes

Prenatally diagnosed conditions, patient to be providedinformation--definitions--clearinghouse of information to beestablished.

191.923. 1. The general assembly of the state of Missouri herebyfinds and declares that pregnant women who choose to undergo prenatalscreening should have access to timely and informative counseling about theconditions being tested for, the accuracy of such tests, and resources forobtaining support services for such conditions. Informed consent is acritical component of all genetic testing and prenatal screening,particularly as the results of such testing or screening and the counselingthat follows may lead to the unnecessary abortion of unborn humans withDown Syndrome or other prenatally diagnosed conditions.

2. As used in this section, the following terms shall mean:

(1) "Down Syndrome", a chromosomal disorder caused by an error incell division that results in the presence of an extra whole or partialcopy of chromosome 21;

(2) "Health care provider", any person or entity licensed,accredited, or certified by the state of Missouri to perform specifiedhealth services;

(3) "Prenatally diagnosed condition", any adverse fetal healthcondition identified by prenatal genetic testing or indicated by prenatalscreening procedures;

(4) "Prenatal test", a diagnostic procedure or screening procedureperformed upon a pregnant woman or her unborn offspring to obtaininformation about her offspring's health or development.

3. When a prenatally diagnosed condition, including but not limitedto Down Syndrome, becomes known as a result of one or more prenatal tests,the physician or other health care professional who requested or orderedprenatal tests, or his or her designee, shall provide the patient withcurrent information about the conditions that were tested for, the accuracyof such tests, and resources for obtaining support services for suchconditions, including information hotlines specific to Down Syndrome orother prenatally diagnosed conditions, resource centers, and clearinghousesfor such conditions, support programs for parents and families, and thealternatives to abortion services program under section 188.325, RSMo.

4. The department of health and senior services shall establish aclearinghouse of information concerning supportive services providers,information hotlines specific to Down Syndrome or other prenatallydiagnosed conditions, resource centers, education, other support programsfor parents and families, and the alternatives to abortion services programunder section 188.325, RSMo.

(L. 2007 H.B. 818 § 191.912)