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Current as of March 28, 2024 | Updated by Findlaw Staff
As used in this subchapter:
(1)(A) “Abortion” means the use or prescription of any instrument, medicine, drug, or other substance or device intentionally to terminate the pregnancy of a female known to be pregnant.
(B) However, “abortion” does not include the termination of a pregnancy if the termination is intended to:
(i) Increase the probability of a live birth;
(ii) Preserve the life or health of the child after live birth; or
(iii) Remove a dead fetus who died as the result of a spontaneous miscarriage;
(2) “Attempt to perform an abortion” means an act or an omission of a statutorily required act that under the circumstances as the actor believes them to be constitutes a substantial step in a course of conduct planned to culminate in the termination of a pregnancy in this state;
(3) “Gestational age” means the age of the unborn child as calculated from the first day of the last menstrual period of the pregnant woman;
(4) “Medical emergency” means any condition that on the basis of the physician's good-faith clinical judgment so complicates the medical condition of a pregnant female that:
(A) The immediate abortion of her pregnancy is necessary to prevent her death; or
(B) A delay will create a serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant female;
(5) “Physician” means a person authorized or licensed to practice medicine under the Arkansas Medical Practices Act, § 17-95-201 et seq., § 17-95-301 et seq., and § 17-95-401 et seq., and a person authorized to practice osteopathy under § 17-91-101 et seq.;
(6) “Probable gestational age” means the age that with reasonable probability in the judgment of a physician will be the gestational age of the unborn child at the time the abortion is planned to be performed; and
(7) “Unborn child” means a member of the species Homo sapiens from fertilization until birth.
Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Arkansas Code Title 20. Public Health and Welfare § 20-16-1102. Definitions - last updated March 28, 2024 | https://codes.findlaw.com/ar/title-20-public-health-and-welfare/ar-code-sect-20-16-1102/
FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction. Please verify the status of the code you are researching with the state legislature before relying on it for your legal needs.
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