DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law
or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 578 Engrossed 2021 Regular Session Amedee
Abstract: Requires disclosure of certain information relative to abortion pill reversal.
Present law provides for the regulation of abortions in this state to the extent it is provided for under
federal law.
Proposed law states that when a physician or agent thereof administers mifepristone to a pregnant
woman, he shall provide a disclosure statement published by the La. Dept. of Health to the pregnant
woman.
Proposed law further provides that the disclosure statement may be provided by doing any of the
following:
(1) Stapling the disclosure statement to a bag, envelope, or other package that contains
misoprostol for the pregnant woman to self-administer at home.
(2) Attaching the disclosure statement to a written prescription for misoprostol provided by the
physician or agent thereof.
(3)Attaching the disclosure statement to the patient's discharge instruction if the prescription for
misoprostol is sent directly to a pharmacy.
Further provides that the department shall provide the disclosure statement on an internet webpage
created in accordance with present law. The disclosure statement shall be provided on the webpage
and include the relevant and medically accurate risks associated with taking the abortion pill. The
disclosure statement shall be on a standard page which lays out three cut-out notices and features the
following text:
ABORTION PILL REVERSAL? PLEASE READ BEFORE TAKING SECOND PILL:
Recent research has indicated that the first pill provided, identified as mifepristone, is not
always effective in ending a pregnancy. You may be able to avoid, cease, or reverse the
intended effects of a chemically-induced abortion if the second pill provided, identified as
misoprostol, is not taken. If you wish to discuss the possibility of continuing your pregnancy,
please consult your physician or healthcare provider immediately. Please visit the Louisiana
Department of Health's webpage for more information and resources deemed to be medically
accurate by the department." Proposed law requires the La. Dept. of Health to identify the internet webpage as
www.abortionpillinfo.la.gov and include the department's logo on the internet webpage.
Proposed law stipulates that nothing in proposed law shall be construed as creating or recognizing
a right to abortion.
Proposed law defines "abortion pill", "mifepristone", and "misoprostol".
Proposed law provides that any provision of this Act held to be invalid or unenforceable by its terms,
or as applied to any person or circumstance, shall be construed so as to give it the maximum effect
permitted by law, unless such holding is one of utter invalidity or unenforceability, in which event
such provision shall be deemed severable in accordance with R.S. 24:175, and shall not affect the
remainder hereof or the application of such provision to other persons not similarly situated or to
other dissimilar circumstances.
(Adds R.S. 40:1061.11.1)