Assembly Bill 546 seeks to amend the definition of abortion in Wisconsin law, specifically regarding the requirements for voluntary and informed consent. The bill clarifies that certain medical procedures performed by physicians, which are intended to prevent the death of a pregnant woman and not to terminate the life of the unborn child, will not be classified as abortions. This includes procedures such as early induction or cesarean sections performed in medical emergencies, as well as the removal of dead embryos or fetuses, ectopic pregnancies, anembryonic pregnancies, and molar pregnancies. The bill emphasizes that these procedures should be conducted with reasonable medical efforts to preserve both the woman's life and that of her unborn child.

In addition to redefining abortion, the bill introduces specific definitions for terms such as "anembryonic pregnancy," "ectopic pregnancy," and "molar pregnancy." It also renumbers and amends various sections of existing statutes to incorporate these changes. Notably, the bill includes provisions that ensure the new definition of abortion applies to related legal contexts, such as funding prohibitions and parental consent requirements for minors seeking abortions. Overall, the bill aims to clarify the legal framework surrounding abortion and related medical procedures in Wisconsin.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 253.10(2)(h), 253.10