HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2651        FILED ON: 1/16/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Christine P. Barber and Lindsay N. Sabadosa

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act prioritizing patient access to care.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2651        FILED ON: 1/16/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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An Act prioritizing patient access to care.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Section 12N of Chapter 112 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 1 through 9, the words “no abortion may be performed except by a physician, and only if in the best medical judgment of the physician it is: (i) necessary to preserve the life of the patient; (ii) necessary to preserve the patient's physical or mental health; (iii) warranted because of a lethal fetal anomaly or diagnosis; or (iv) warranted because of a grave fetal diagnosis that indicates that the fetus is incompatible with sustained life outside of the uterus without extraordinary medical interventions.” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- an abortion may be performed when based upon the professional judgment of the physician.

SECTION 2. Section 12N1/2 of said chapter 112, as so appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines1 through 4 the words “(a) Each circumstance permitting an abortion for a pregnancy that has existed for 24 weeks or more under section 12N shall be considered independently by a treating physician and a patient or the patient's health care proxy.” 

SECTION 3. Said section 12N1/2 of said chapter 112, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 5, the words “a determination by” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “the professional judgment of”.

SECTION 4. Said section 12N1/2 of said chapter 112, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out subsection (b).

SECTION 5. Section 12P of said chapter 112, as so appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby further amended by striking out the second paragraph.