Ohio Code 2919.17 – Terminating or attempting to terminate human pregnancy after viability
(A) No person shall purposely perform or induce or attempt to perform or induce an abortion on a pregnant woman when the unborn child is viable.
Attorney's Note
Under the Ohio Code, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:| Class | Prison | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Felony of the fourth degree | 6 to 18 months | up to $5,000 |
Terms Used In Ohio Code 2919.17
- Another: when used to designate the owner of property which is the subject of an offense, includes not only natural persons but also every other owner of property. See Ohio Code 1.02
- Child: includes child by adoption. See Ohio Code 1.59
- Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
- Equitable: Pertaining to civil suits in "equity" rather than in "law." In English legal history, the courts of "law" could order the payment of damages and could afford no other remedy. See damages. A separate court of "equity" could order someone to do something or to cease to do something. See, e.g., injunction. In American jurisprudence, the federal courts have both legal and equitable power, but the distinction is still an important one. For example, a trial by jury is normally available in "law" cases but not in "equity" cases. Source: U.S. Courts
- in writing: includes any representation of words, letters, symbols, or figures; this provision does not affect any law relating to signatures. See Ohio Code 1.59
- Person: includes an individual, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, and association. See Ohio Code 1.59
- Property: means real and personal property. See Ohio Code 1.59
- state: means the state of Ohio. See Ohio Code 1.59
- Whoever: includes all persons, natural and artificial; partners; principals, agents, and employees; and all officials, public or private. See Ohio Code 1.02
(B)(1) It is an affirmative defense to a charge under division (A) of this section that the abortion was performed or induced or attempted to be performed or induced by a physician and that the physician determined, in the physician’s good faith medical judgment, based on the facts known to the physician at that time, that either of the following applied:
(a) The unborn child was not viable.
(b) The abortion was necessary to prevent the death of the pregnant woman or a serious risk of the substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman.
(2) No abortion shall be considered necessary under division (B)(1)(b) of this section on the basis of a claim or diagnosis that the pregnant woman will engage in conduct that would result in the pregnant woman’s death or a substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman or based on any reason related to the woman’s mental health.
(C) Except when a medical emergency exists that prevents compliance with section 2919.18 of the Revised Code, the affirmative defense set forth in division (B)(1)(a) of this section does not apply unless the physician who performs or induces or attempts to perform or induce the abortion performs the viability testing required by division (A) of section 2919.18 of the Revised Code and certifies in writing, based on the results of the tests performed, that in the physician’s good faith medical judgment the unborn child is not viable.
(D) Except when a medical emergency exists that prevents compliance with one or more of the following conditions, the affirmative defense set forth in division (B)(1)(b) of this section does not apply unless the physician who performs or induces or attempts to perform or induce the abortion complies with all of the following conditions:
(1) The physician who performs or induces or attempts to perform or induce the abortion certifies in writing that, in the physician’s good faith medical judgment, based on the facts known to the physician at that time, the abortion is necessary to prevent the death of the pregnant woman or a serious risk of the substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman.
(2) Another physician who is not professionally related to the physician who intends to perform or induce the abortion certifies in writing that, in that physician’s good faith medical judgment, based on the facts known to that physician at that time, the abortion is necessary to prevent the death of the pregnant woman or a serious risk of the substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman.
(3) The physician performs or induces or attempts to perform or induce the abortion in a hospital or other health care facility that has appropriate neonatal services for premature infants.
(4) The physician who performs or induces or attempts to perform or induce the abortion terminates or attempts to terminate the pregnancy in the manner that provides the best opportunity for the unborn child to survive, unless that physician determines, in the physician’s good faith medical judgment, based on the facts known to the physician at that time, that the termination of the pregnancy in that manner poses a greater risk of the death of the pregnant woman or a greater risk of the substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman than would other available methods of abortion.
(5) The physician certifies in writing the available method or techniques considered and the reasons for choosing the method or technique employed.
(6) The physician who performs or induces or attempts to perform or induce the abortion has arranged for the attendance in the same room in which the abortion is to be performed or induced or attempted to be performed or induced at least one other physician who is to take control of, provide immediate medical care for, and take all reasonable steps necessary to preserve the life and health of the unborn child immediately upon the child’s complete expulsion or extraction from the pregnant woman.
(E) For purposes of this section, there is a rebuttable presumption that an unborn child of at least twenty-four weeks gestational age is viable.
(F) Whoever violates this section is guilty of terminating or attempting to terminate a human pregnancy after viability, a felony of the fourth degree.
(G) The state medical board shall revoke a physician’s license to practice medicine in this state if the physician violates this section.
(H) Any physician who performs or induces an abortion or attempts to perform or induce an abortion with actual knowledge that neither of the affirmative defenses set forth in division (B)(1) of this section applies, or with a heedless indifference as to whether either affirmative defense applies, is liable in a civil action for compensatory and exemplary damages and reasonable attorney’s fees to any person, or the representative of the estate of any person, who sustains injury, death, or loss to person or property as the result of the performance or inducement or the attempted performance or inducement of the abortion. In any action under this division, the court also may award any injunctive or other equitable relief that the court considers appropriate.
(I) A pregnant woman on whom an abortion is performed or induced or attempted to be performed or induced in violation of division (A) of this section is not guilty of violating division (A) of this section or of attempting to commit, conspiring to commit, or complicity in committing a violation of division (A) of this section.