TITLE 24

Professions and Occupations

CHAPTER 17. Medical Practice Act

Subchapter IX. Termination of Human Pregnancy

§ 1790. Termination of pregnancy before viability not prohibited; termination of pregnancy after viability limited.

(a) Any of the following may terminate, assist in the termination of, or attempt the termination of a human pregnancy before viability:

(1) A physician.

(2) A physician assistant with a collaborative agreement with an appropriately-trained physician.

(3) A certified nurse midwife or certified nurse practitioner who demonstrates knowledge and competency including successful completion of a training or certification approved by the Board of Nursing.

(b) A physician may not terminate, attempt to terminate, or assist in the termination or attempt at termination of a human pregnancy otherwise than by birth after viability, unless, in the good faith medical judgment of the physician, the termination is necessary for the protection of the woman’s life or health or in the event of a fetal anomaly for which there is not a reasonable likelihood of the fetus’s sustained survival outside the uterus without extraordinary medical measures.

(c) A physician assistant or an advanced practice registered nurse may prescribe medication for the termination of pregnancy including Mifeprex, Mifepristone, and Misoprostol.

24 Del. C. 1953, §  1790;  57 Del. Laws, c. 145, §  257 Del. Laws, c. 235, §§  1, 258 Del. Laws, c. 511, §  5566 Del. Laws, c. 269, §  1670 Del. Laws, c. 149, §  21170 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  181 Del. Laws, c. 35, § 283 Del. Laws, c. 298, § 183 Del. Laws, c. 327, § 1

§ 1791. Refusal to perform or submit to medical procedures.

(a) No person shall be required to perform or participate in medical procedures which result in the termination of pregnancy; and the refusal of any person to perform or participate in these medical procedures shall not be a basis for civil liability to any person, nor a basis for any disciplinary or other recriminatory action against the person.

(b) No hospital, hospital director or governing board shall be required to permit the termination of human pregnancies within its institution, and the refusal to permit such procedures shall not be grounds for civil liability to any person, nor a basis for any disciplinary or other recriminatory action against it by the State or any person.

(c) The refusal of any person to submit to an abortion or to give consent shall not be grounds for loss of any privileges or immunities to which such person would otherwise be entitled, nor shall submission to an abortion or the granting of consent be a condition precedent to the receipt of any public benefits.

24 Del. C. 1953, §  1791;  57 Del. Laws, c. 145, §  270 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1

§ 1792. Assistance or participation in an unlawful termination of human pregnancy.

No person shall, unless the termination of a human pregnancy has been authorized pursuant to § 1790 of this title:

(1) Sell or give, or cause to be sold or given, any drug, medicine, preparation, instrument or device for the purpose of causing, inducing or obtaining a termination of such pregnancy; or

(2) Give advice, counsel or information for the purpose of causing, inducing or obtaining a termination of such pregnancy; or

(3) Knowingly assist or cause by any means whatsoever the obtaining or performing of a termination of such pregnancy.

24 Del. C. 1953, §  1792;  57 Del. Laws, c. 145, §  2

§ 1793. Residency requirements; exceptions [Repealed].
24 Del. C. 1953, §  1793;  57 Del. Laws, c. 145, §  3(A)70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1repealed by 81 Del. Laws, c. 35, § 3, effective June 8, 2017.

§ 1794. Consent prior to termination of human pregnancy [Repealed].
62 Del. Laws, c. 171, §  170 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1repealed by 81 Del. Laws, c. 35, § 4, eff. June 8, 2017.

§ 1795. Live birth following abortion.

(a) In the event an abortion or an attempted abortion results in the live birth of a child, the person performing or inducing such abortion or attempted abortion and all persons rendering medical care to the child after its birth must exercise that degree of medical skill, care and diligence which would be rendered to a child who is born alive as the result of a natural birth.

(b) Nothing found in this section shall be deemed to preclude prosecution under any other applicable section of the Delaware Code for knowing or reckless conduct which is detrimental to the life or health of an infant born as a result of a procedure designed to terminate pregnancy. Anyone who knowingly violates this section shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor.

63 Del. Laws, c. 353, §  1