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Washington Abortion Laws
Explanation of Chart and More Information on Abortion Laws
| Code Section | 9.02.100 et seq. |
| Statutory Definition of Illegal Abortion | Any medical treatment intended to induce the termination of a pregnancy except for the purpose of producing a live birth. Partial Birth Infanticide: Regulating partial-birth infanticide is not regulating abortion, but rather is proscribing infanticide by restricting the killing of a live infant who is in the process of birth. Partial birth infanticide is unlawful, but does not apply when the procedure was used to prevent the death of the mother when no other medical procedure would suffice, including the induction of labour or cesarean section. |
| Statutory Definition of Legal Abortion | Reproductive Privacy Act: "The state may not deny or interfere with a woman's right to choose to have an abortion prior to viability of the fetus or to protect her life or health." State may regulate as is medically necessary to protect the life, health of mother and consistent with established medical practice and in keeping with the least restrictive on the woman's right to have an abortion |
| Penalty for Unlawful Abortion | Unauthorized abortion performed: Class C felony |
| Consent Requirements | - |
| Residency Requirements for Patients | - |
| Physician Licensing Requirements | Licensed M.D., and licensed hospital, except when medical emergency, licensed health care provider may assist |
Note: State laws are constantly changing -- contact an attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.
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- Official State Codes - Links to the official online statutes (laws) in all 50 states and DC.
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