State Protects Women From Postpartum Depression

As a result of the recent CDC report that [a]s many as one in five women in the United States suffers from postpartum depressive symptoms, the State does its duty and exercises its right to step in and protect pregnant women from themselves:

An Act to Protect the Families, and the Interests and Health of Pregnant Mothers, by Prohibiting Discouraging Carrying a Pregnancy to Term Except in Cases Where the Mother’s Life or Health Isn't at Risk of Anything

(a) Findings- Congress makes the following findings:

(1) Women who become pregnant should be protected from endangering their health by being coerced into carrying the pregnancy to term. Informed consent is a critical component of all decisions to continue the pregnancy.

(2) A recent report from the CDC found that [a]s many as one in five women in the United States suffers from postpartum depressive symptoms.

Part Z of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280g et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(b) I. Requires the viewing of an abortion techniques video prior to a woman receiving prenatal care, with an explicit provision that allows a woman to avert her eyes.

II. Requires any "private office, freestanding outpatient clinic, or other facility or clinic or hospital" in which prenatal care is provided to "conspicuously" post a sign that is "at least three-quarters of an inch boldfaced type" in each patient waiting room and patient consultation room used by prenatal patients. The sign must state that it is "against the law for anyone, regardless of his or her relationship to you, to force you to carry the pregnancy to term."

III. A physician must inform a pregnant female minor that "no one can force her to carry the pregnancy to term" and that prenatal care cannot be provided "unless she provides her freely given, voluntary and informed consent"

IV. Requires minors seeking to carry the pregnancy to term to obtain parental consent before undergoing the pregnancy.

V. It is a felony for a physician to deliver prenatal care to a minor who does not have parental consent or a judicial waiver.

VI. Allows siblings, parents, grandparents or the husband of a pregnant woman to go to court to stop her from continuing the pregnancy post-21 weeks if they can argue the procedure might violate state law.

VII. Requires a physician to meet privately with a woman 30 minutes before the start of the prenatal visit and that the woman provide a written reason for the pregnancy.