253.10(3)(c)2.g.
g. That the printed materials described in
par. (d) contain information on the availability of public and private agencies and services to provide the woman with information on family planning, as defined in
s. 253.07 (1) (a), including natural family planning information.
253.10(3)(c)3.
3. The information that is required under
subds. 1. and
2. is provided to the woman in an individual setting that protects her privacy, maintains the confidentiality of her decision and ensures that the information she receives focuses on her individual circumstances. This subdivision may not be construed to prevent the woman from having a family member, or any other person of her choice, present during her private counseling.
253.10(3)(c)4.
4. Whoever provides the information that is required under
subd. 1. or
2., or both, provides adequate opportunity for the woman to ask questions, including questions concerning the pregnancy, her unborn child, abortion, foster care and adoption, and provides the information that is requested or indicates to the woman where she can obtain the information.
253.10(3)(c)5.
5. The woman certifies in writing on a form that the department shall provide, prior to performance or inducement of the abortion, that the information that is required under
subds. 1. and
2. has been provided to her in the manner specified in
subd. 3., that she has been offered the information described in
par. (d) and that all of her questions, as specified under
subd. 4., have been answered in a satisfactory manner. The physician who is to perform or induce the abortion or the qualified person assisting the physician shall write on the certification form the name of the physician who is to perform or induce the abortion. The woman shall indicate on the certification form who provided the information to her and when it was provided.
253.10(3)(c)6.
6. Prior to the performance or the inducement of the abortion, the physician who is to perform or induce the abortion or the qualified person assisting the physician receives the written certification that is required under
subd. 5. The physician or qualified person assisting the physician shall place the certification in the woman's medical record and shall provide the woman with a copy of the certification.
253.10(3)(c)7.
7. If the woman considering an abortion is a minor, unless
s. 48.375 (4) (a) 2. applies, the requirements to provide information to the woman under
subds. 1. to
6. apply to also require provision of the information to the individual whose consent is also required under
s. 48.375 (4) (a) 1. If the woman considering an abortion has been adjudicated incompetent under
ch. 880, the requirements to provide information to the woman under
subds. 1. to
6. apply to also require provision of the information to the person appointed as the woman's guardian.
253.10(3)(d)
(d)
Printed information. By the date that is 60 days after May 16, 1996, the department shall cause to be published in English, Spanish, and other languages spoken by a significant number of state residents, as determined by the department, materials that are in an easily comprehensible format and are printed in type of not less than 12-point size. The department shall distribute a reasonably adequate number of the materials to county departments as specified under
s. 46.245 and upon request, shall annually review the materials for accuracy and shall exercise reasonable diligence in providing materials that are accurate and current. The materials shall be all of the following:
253.10(3)(d)1.
1. Geographically indexed materials that are designed to inform a woman about public and private agencies, including adoption agencies, and services that are available to provide information on family planning, as defined in
s. 253.07 (1) (a), including natural family planning information, to provide ultrasound imaging services, to assist her if she has received a diagnosis that her unborn child has a disability or if her pregnancy is the result of sexual assault or incest and to assist her through pregnancy, upon childbirth and while the child is dependent. The materials shall include a comprehensive list of the agencies available, a description of the services that they offer and a description of the manner in which they may be contacted, including telephone numbers and addresses, or, at the option of the department, the materials shall include a toll-free, 24-hour telephone number that may be called to obtain an oral listing of available agencies and services in the locality of the caller and a description of the services that the agencies offer and the manner in which they may be contacted. The materials shall provide information on the availability of governmentally funded programs that serve pregnant women and children. Services identified for the woman shall include aid to families with dependent children under
s. 49.19, medical assistance for pregnant women and children under
s. 49.47 (4) (am), the job opportunities and basic skills program under
s. 49.193, the availability of family or medical leave under
s. 103.10, child care services, child support laws and programs and the credit for expenses for household and dependent care and services necessary for gainful employment under section
21 of the internal revenue code. The materials shall state that it is unlawful to perform an abortion for which consent has been coerced, that any physician who performs or induces an abortion without obtaining the woman's voluntary and informed consent is liable to her for damages in a civil action and is subject to a civil penalty, that the father of a child is liable for assistance in the support of the child, even in instances in which the father has offered to pay for an abortion, and that adoptive parents may pay the costs of prenatal care, childbirth and neonatal care. The materials shall include information, for a woman whose pregnancy is the result of sexual assault or incest, on legal protections available to the woman and her child if she wishes to oppose establishment of paternity or to terminate the father's parental rights. The materials shall state that fetal ultrasound imaging and auscultation of fetal heart tone services are obtainable by pregnant women who wish to use them and shall describe the services.
253.10(3)(d)2.
2. Materials, including photographs, pictures or drawings, that are designed to inform the woman of the probable anatomical and physiological characteristics of the unborn child at 2-week gestational increments for the first 16 weeks of her pregnancy and at 4-week gestational increments from the 17th week of the pregnancy to full term, including any relevant information regarding the time at which the unborn child could possibly be viable. The pictures or drawings must contain the dimensions of the unborn child and must be realistic and appropriate for the stage of pregnancy depicted. The materials shall be objective, nonjudgmental and designed to convey only accurate scientific information about the unborn child at the various gestational ages, including appearance, mobility, brain and heart activity and function, tactile sensitivity and the presence of internal organs and external members. The materials shall also contain objective, accurate information describing the methods of abortion procedures commonly employed, the medical and psychological risks commonly associated with each such procedure, including the risks of infection, psychological trauma, hemorrhage, endometritis, perforated uterus, incomplete abortion, failed abortion, danger to subsequent pregnancies and infertility, and the medical risks commonly associated with carrying a child to birth.
253.10(3)(d)3.
3. A certification form for use under
par. (c) 5. that lists, in a check-off format, all of the information required to be provided under that subdivision.
253.10(3)(e)
(e)
Requirement to obtain materials. A physician who intends to perform or induce an abortion or another qualified physician, who reasonably believes that he or she might have a patient for whom the information under
par. (d) is required to be given, shall request a reasonably adequate number of the materials that are described under
par. (d) from the department under
par. (d) or from a county department as specified under
s. 46.245.
253.10(3)(f)
(f)
Medical emergency. If a medical emergency exists, the physician who is to perform or induce the abortion necessitated by the medical emergency shall inform the woman, prior to the abortion if possible, of the medical indications supporting the physician's reasonable medical judgment that an immediate abortion is necessary to avert her death or that a 24-hour delay in performance or inducement of an abortion will create a serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of one or more of the woman's major bodily functions. If possible, the physician shall obtain the woman's written consent prior to the abortion. The physician shall certify these medical indications in writing and place the certification in the woman's medical record.
253.10(3)(g)
(g)
Presumptions. Satisfaction of the conditions required under
par. (c) creates a rebuttable presumption that the woman's consent and, if the woman is a minor and if
s. 48.375 (4) (a) 2. does not apply, the consent of the individual who also gives consent under
s. 48.375 (4) (a) 1. to an abortion is informed. The presumption of informed consent may be overcome by a preponderance of evidence that establishes that the consent was obtained through fraud, negligence, deception, misrepresentation or omission of a material fact. There is no presumption that consent to an abortion is voluntary.
253.10(3m)
(3m) Pregnancy as the result of sexual assault or incest. 253.10(3m)(a)1.
1. The woman alleges that the pregnancy is the result of sexual assault under
s. 940.225 (1),
(2) or
(3) and states that a report alleging the sexual assault has been made to law enforcement authorities.
253.10(3m)(a)2.
2. Whoever provides the information that is required under
sub. (3) (c) 1. or
2., or both, confirms with law enforcement authorities that a report on behalf of the woman about the sexual assault has been made to law enforcement authorities, makes a notation to this effect and places the notation in the woman's medical record.
253.10(3m)(b)1.
1. The woman alleges that the pregnancy is the result of incest under
s. 948.06 (1) and states that a report alleging the incest has been made to law enforcement authorities.
253.10(3m)(b)2.
2. Whoever provides the information that is required under
sub. (3) (c) 1. or
2., or both, confirms with law enforcement authorities that a report on behalf of the woman about the incest has been made to law enforcement authorities, makes a notation to this effect and places the notation in the woman's medical record.
253.10(3m)(c)
(c) Upon receipt by the law enforcement authorities of a request for confirmation under
par. (a) 2. or
(b) 2., and after reasonable verification of the identity of the woman and her consent to release of the information, the law enforcement authorities shall confirm whether or not the report has been made. No record of a request or confirmation made under this paragraph may be disclosed by the law enforcement authorities.
253.10(4)
(4) Hotline. The department may maintain a toll-free telephone number that is available 24 hours each day, to provide the materials specified in
sub. (3) (d) 1.
253.10(5)
(5) Penalty. Any person who violates
sub. (3) or
(3m) (a) 2. or
(b) 2. shall be required to forfeit not less than $1,000 nor more than $10,000.
253.10(6)(a)(a) A person who violates
sub. (3) or
(3m) (a) 2. or
(b) 2. is liable to the woman on or for whom the abortion was performed or induced for damages arising out of the performance or inducement of the abortion, including damages for personal injury and emotional and psychological distress.
253.10(6)(b)
(b) A person who has been awarded damages under
par. (a) shall, in addition to any damages awarded under
par. (a), be entitled to not less than $1,000 nor more than $10,000 in punitive damages for a violation that satisfies a standard under
s. 895.85 (3).
253.10(6)(c)
(c) A conviction under
sub. (5) is not a condition precedent to bringing an action, obtaining a judgment or collecting the judgment under this subsection.
253.10(6)(d)
(d) Notwithstanding
s. 814.04 (1), a person who recovers damages under
par. (a) or
(b) may also recover reasonable attorney fees incurred in connection with the action.
253.10(6)(e)
(e) A contract is not a defense to an action under this subsection.
253.10(6)(f)
(f) Nothing in this subsection limits the common law rights of a person that are not in conflict with
sub. (3).
253.10(7)
(7) Affirmative defense. No person is liable under
sub. (5) or
(6) or under
s. 441.07 (1) (f),
448.02 (3) (a) or
457.26 (2) (gm) for failure under
sub. (3) (c) 2. d. to provide the printed materials described in
sub. (3) (d) to a woman or for failure under
sub. (3) (c) 2. d.,
e.,
f. or
g. to describe the contents of the printed materials if the person has made a reasonably diligent effort to obtain the printed materials under
sub. (3) (e) and
s. 46.245 and the department and the county department under
s. 46.215,
46.22 or
46.23 have not made the printed materials available at the time that the person is required to give them to the woman.
253.10(8)
(8) Construction. Nothing in this section may be construed as creating or recognizing a right to abortion or as making lawful an abortion that is otherwise unlawful.
253.10 History
History: 1985 a. 56,
176;
1991 a. 263;
1993 a. 27 s.
378; Stats. 1993 s. 253.10;
1995 a. 309;
1997 a. 27.
253.10 Annotation
Section 253.10 is constitutional except that subs. (3) (c) 1. g. and j. are unconstitutional and subs. (2) (d) and (g) and (3) (c) 2. are constitutional only if construed consistent with the court's opinion. Karlin v. Foust,
975 F. Supp. 1177 (1997).
253.11
253.11
Infant blindness. 253.11(1)(1) For the prevention of ophthalmia neonatorum or infant blindness the attending physician or midwife shall use a prophylactic agent approved by the department.
253.11(2)
(2) In a confinement not attended by a physician or nurse-midwife, if one or both eyes of an infant become inflamed, swollen and red or show an unnatural discharge at any time within 2 weeks after birth, the nurse, parents, or other person in charge shall report the facts in writing within 6 hours to the local health officer who shall immediately warn the person of the danger. The local health officer shall employ at the expense of the local health department a competent physician to examine and treat the case.
253.11(3)
(3) Any person who violates this section may be required to forfeit not more than $1,000.
253.11 History
History: 1979 c. 221;
1987 a. 332;
1993 a. 27 s.
314; Stats. 1993 s. 253.11.
253.12
253.12
Birth and developmental outcome monitoring program. 253.12(1)(a)
(a) "Adverse neonatal outcome" means one of the following resulting to an infant at birth or in the first month following birth:
253.12(1)(a)2.
2. A condition of a chronic nature, including central nervous system hemorrhage or infection of the central nervous system, which may result in a need for long-term care.
253.12(1)(a)3.
3. An apgar score of 3 or less at 5 minutes following birth.
253.12(1)(b)
(b) "Apgar score" means a numerical expression of the condition of a newborn infant which is the sum of points achieved after assessing the infant's heart rate, respiratory effort, muscle tone, reflex irritability and color.
253.12(1)(c)
(c) "Birth defect" means one or more of the following conditions resulting to an infant or child:
253.12(1)(e)
(e) "Infant or child" means a human from birth to the age of 6 years.
253.12(1)(g)
(g) "Other severe disability" means a severe sensory impairment, severe orthopedic impairment or developmental delay that results from injury, infection or disease, is chronic in nature and requires long-term care.
253.12(2)(a)(a) Beginning on April 29, 1992, the persons specified in
par. (b) shall report all of the following to the department:
253.12(2)(a)1.
1. The appearance of the condition, within 90 days after a physician first makes a diagnosis or confirms a suspected diagnosis or a nurse knows or suspects that the infant or child has the condition.
253.12(2)(a)2.
2. Information which disputes, augments or clarifies the physician's diagnosis or the nurse's knowledge or suspicion under
subd. 1., within 90 days after receipt of the information.
253.12(2)(b)
(b) The persons required to report under
par. (a) are the following:
253.12(2)(b)1.
1. A physician licensed under
ch. 448, regardless of whether he or she is the primary treating physician for an infant or child or is a consulting physician to whom the infant or child is referred by the primary treating physician, who is the first physician to make a diagnosis or confirm a suspected diagnosis that the infant or child has a condition resulting from an adverse neonatal outcome, a birth defect or a developmental disability or other severe disability.
253.12(2)(b)2.
2. If no physician licensed under
ch. 448 has treated an infant or child, a nurse registered, permitted or licensed under
ch. 441 who knows or suspects with reasonable medical certainty that an infant or child visited by the nurse has a condition resulting from an adverse neonatal outcome, a birth defect or a developmental disability or other severe disability.
253.12(3)
(3) Departmental powers and duties. From the appropriations under
s. 20.435 (1) (md) [sub.
(5) (md)] and
(8) (n), the department shall perform all of the following for the program under this section:
253.12 Note
NOTE: The correct cross-reference is shown in brackets. Corrective legislation is pending.
253.12(3)(a)
(a) Develop and implement a system for the collection, updating and analysis of information reported under
sub. (2), including the publication and distribution of report forms.
253.12(3)(b)
(b) Disseminate data and information, publish an annual report, submit the report annually to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature for distribution to the appropriate standing committees under
s. 13.172 (3) and provide county-specific information to counties in this state on the results of information collected under
sub. (2).
253.12(3)(c)
(c) Coordinate data dissemination activities of the department with those of the division for learning support, equity and advocacy in the department of public instruction with respect to the information collected under
sub. (2).
253.12(4)(a)(a) The department, following consultation with the early intervention interagency coordinating council, shall promulgate rules:
253.12(4)(a)2.
2. To determine form content and format and procedures necessary for submittal to the department of a report under
sub. (2).
253.12(4)(b)
(b) The department may promulgate rules specifying the types of information and the conditions under which that information may be released under
sub. (5) (a).
253.12(5)(a)(a) The department may not release information specifically identifying an infant or child that is obtained from reports under
sub. (2), except the following, under the following conditions:
253.12(5)(a)1.
1. To the parent or guardian of an infant or child for whom a report is made under
sub. (2), upon receipt of a written request from the parent or guardian.
253.12(5)(a)3.
3. To the division for learning support, equity and advocacy in the department of public instruction, upon request, the name and address of an infant or child for whom a report is made under
sub. (2) and other information necessary to aid the division in providing services to the infant or child. The department shall notify the parent or guardian of an infant or child about whom information is released under this subdivision, of the release. The division for learning support, equity and advocacy in the department of public instruction may disclose information received under this paragraph only as necessary to provide services to the infant or child.
253.12(5)(a)4.
4. To a physician or nurse reporting under
sub. (2), for the purpose of verification of information reported by the physician or nurse.
253.12(5)(a)5.
5. To a representative of a federal or state agency, upon written request, information necessary to perform a legally authorized function of that agency, including investigation of causes, mortality, methods of prevention, treatment or care of birth defects, associated diseases or disabilities, except that the information may not include the name or address of an infant or child with a condition reported under
sub. (2). The department shall notify the parent or guardian of an infant or child about whom information is released under this subdivision, of the release. The representative of the federal or state agency may disclose information received under this paragraph only as necessary to perform the legally authorized function of that agency for which the information was requested.
253.12(5)(a)6.
6. To any person who has the informed, written consent of the parent or guardian of an infant or child with a condition reported under
sub. (2), any information concerning that infant or child, solely for the purpose of research in accordance with rules promulgated by the department.
253.12(5)(b)
(b) The department shall, not more than 10 years from the date of receipt of a report under
sub. (2), delete from any file of the department the name of an infant or child that is contained in the report.
253.12(6)
(6) Local health officer access to information. 253.12(6)(a)(a) If a local health officer submits to the department a written request for receipt of information submitted under
sub. (2), the department shall forward to the local health officer an abstract of information received for an infant or child for whom the parent or guardian has provided informed, written consent to a release of the information and who resides in the area of jurisdiction of the local health officer.
253.12(6)(b)
(b) The local health officer may disclose information in the abstract under
par. (a) only as necessary to aid that local health officer in rendering or coordinating follow-up care for the infant or child or for conducting a health, demographic or epidemiologic investigation. The local health officer shall destroy all information obtained under
par. (a) no later than 365 days after he or she receives it, except that this requirement does not apply to information, including individual medical records, obtained by the local health officer subsequent to his or her receipt of information under
par. (a).
253.12(6)(c)
(c) The written request submitted under
par. (a) is invalid after December 31 of the year in which the department receives it.
253.12(7)
(7) Exception. Nothing in this section authorizes or requires the administration of a physical examination or medical care or treatment to an infant or child if the parent or legal guardian of the infant or child objects on the ground that the examination or care or treatment conflicts with his or her religious tenets or practices.
253.12(8)
(8) Admissibility of information as evidence. Information collected under this section is not admissible as evidence in any legal action or proceeding before any court, tribunal, board, agency, person or for the purpose of determining insurability, except for the purpose of enforcing this section.
253.13
253.13
Tests for congenital disorders. 253.13(1)
(1)
Blood tests. The attending physician or nurse certified under
s. 441.15 shall cause every infant born in each hospital or maternity home, prior to its discharge therefrom, to be subjected to blood tests for congenital and metabolic disorders, as specified in rules promulgated by the department. If the infant is born elsewhere than in a hospital or maternity home, the attending physician, nurse certified under
s. 441.15 or birth attendant who attended the birth shall cause the infant, within one week of birth, to be subjected to these blood tests.
253.13(1m)
(1m) Urine tests. The department may establish a urine test program to test infants for causes of congenital disorders. The state laboratory of hygiene board may establish the methods of obtaining urine specimens and testing such specimens, and may develop materials for use in the tests. No person may be required to participate in programs developed under this subsection.
