Termination of Pregnancy Bill 2018 (Qld)

An Act about the termination of pregnancies, and to amend this Act, the Criminal Code, the Evidence Act 1977, the Guardianship and Administration Act 2000, the Penalties and Sentences Act 1992, the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000 and the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995 for particular purposes The Parliament of Queensland enacts—

Part 1 Preliminary

1 Short title This Act may be cited as the Termination of Pregnancy Act 2018.

2 Commencement This Act commences on a day to be fixed by proclamation.

3 Purposes The purposes of this Act are— (a) to enable reasonable and safe access by women to terminations; and (b) to regulate the conduct of registered health practitioners in relation to terminations.

4 Definitions The dictionary in schedule 1 defines particular words used in this Act.

Part 2 Performance of terminations by registered health practitioners

5 Termination by medical practitioner at not more than 22 weeks A medical practitioner may perform a termination on a woman who is not more than 22 weeks pregnant.

6 Termination by medical practitioner after 22 weeks (1) A medical practitioner may perform a termination on a woman who is more than 22 weeks pregnant if— (a) the medical practitioner considers that, in all the circumstances, the termination should be performed; and (b) the medical practitioner has consulted with another medical practitioner who also considers that, in all the circumstances, the termination should be performed. (2) In considering whether a termination should be performed on a woman, a medical practitioner must consider— (a) all relevant medical circumstances; and (b) the woman's current and future physical, psychological and social circumstances; and (c) the professional standards and guidelines that apply to the medical practitioner in relation to the performance of the termination. (3) In an emergency, a medical practitioner may perform a termination on a woman who is more than 22 weeks pregnant, without acting under subsections (1) and (2), if the medical practitioner considers it is necessary to perform the termination to save the woman's life or the life of another unborn child.