Patient Statement
Information outlined in the NC women’s right to know act.
The law requires that you certify that you have had access to the materials outlined in the women’s right to know act, at least 24 hours before an abortion procedure. This will be accomplished by your signature on a statement that you have received the required information at least 24 hours before your procedure. This certification must be signed before the procedure can be accomplished.
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How does NC law affect me?
On October 26th, 2011, the women’s right to know act became affective in NC. You have the “right to know” that this law can delay your access to abortion. This law requires that you receive state-mandated information, either from the doctor who will perform the abortion, or other qualified individuals, aod then impose a 24-hour waiting period.
We make this process as convenient as possible for you. You must listen to this information by phone call to our clinic or by personal visit at least 24 hours prior to your procedure. You must also bring your valid photo ID, form of payment (cash, certified bank check, mastercard, visa, or discover), wear comfortable clothes and bring a change of underwear for your appointment.
Minors:
North Carolina Law requires parental consent for patients under 18. There is a judicial bypass procedure for minors who believe that parental involvement is not in their best interest. Our appointment staff can talk with you about this process.
Information outlined in the NC women’s right to know act:
What is gestational age?
You have probably heard people say that a pregnancy typically lasts 9 months (or 38 weeks). In the US, healthcare professionals typically calculate the length of pregnancy by gestational age. Gestational age is the number of weeks that have passed since a woman’s last normal menstrual period. Especially in the early stages of pregnancy, a physician can confirm the gestational age of your pregnancy through a physical exam.
What is conceptional age?
Gestational age is not the same thing as conceptional age. Conceptional age is how much time has passed since actual conception. (fertilization) Conception cannot take place until you ovulate, and that typically happens 14 days after the start of your monthly period. Thefore, conceptional age will always be about 14 days younger than gestational age. The average length of a full term pregnancy is about 280 days, or 40 gestational weeks from the first day of the last menstrual period. The average length of a full term pregnancy from the time of conception is about 266 days, or 38 conceptional weeks from the day of conception.
Facts about abortion you need to know
Please read the following carefully. It is a requirement in the state of NC that you have been informed of the information below. You also have the opportunity to ask any questions to the doctor by phone 24 hours in advance of your abortion or when you come in for your appointment.
When you come in for your procedure, you will be informed about the physician who will be doing the abortion. All of our physicians are covered with malpractice insurance and have hospital admission privileges.
Although abortion is a very safe procedure, as with any medical procedure, it has some risks. The risks of a serious complication or death are significantly lower for abortion than for carrying a pregnancy to term.
The risks specific to medical abortion include unknown reactions or serious side effects of the pills and serious cramping and bleeding. In some cases, it is necessary to have a surgical procedure to clean out the uterus after a medication abortion, in which case the risks associated with surgical abortions may be present. The medications used in medical abortion cause fetal death and are also known to cause serious fetal anomalies and therefore once the medicine is taken, the abortion must be completed.
The risks for surgical abortion include infection, heavy bleeding or hemorrhage, adverse reaction to medications or anesthesia, inability to get pregnant in the future as a result of a serious complication, incomplete abortion requiring another procedure, heavy cramping, uterine perforation, injury to the bowel or bladder, cervical laceration, and extremely rarely, hysterectomy, and death.
The risks associated with carrying the pregnancy to term include infection, heavy bleeding or hemorrhage, adverse reaction to medications or anesthesia, inability to get pregnant in the future as a result of a serious complication, heavy cramping, uterine perforation, injury to the bowel or bladder, cervical laceration, and extremely rarely, hysterectomy, and death.
Some women experience negative psychological symptoms following an abortion or carrying a pregnancy to term. Whether a particular woman will experience any adverse psychological symptoms after an abortion depends on many factors including whether the pregnancy was planned, the woman’s prior psychiatric state, and her level of social supports.
The display of a real‑time view of the unborn child and heart tone monitoring that enable you to view your unborn child or listen to the heartbeat of your unborn child are available to you. North Carolina has printed materials available to you. You have the right to review the State's printed materials, and they are available on a State‑sponsored Web site which you can get to from the link below. The materials have been provided by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and they describe the unborn child and list agencies that offer alternatives to abortion. If you want to view the State materials in print form instead of on the website, a physician or qualified professional will either give to you the State materials at least 24 hours before the abortion or mail them to you at least 72 hours before the abortion by certified mail, restricted delivery to addressee.
Medical assistance benefits may be available for prenatal care, childbirth and neonatal care.
Information from NC Dept. of Human Services is available at this link. http://wrtk.ncdhhs.gov
Public assistance programs under Chapter 108A of the General Statutes may or may not be available as benefits under federal and state assistance programs.
The father of the fetus is "liable to assist in the support of the child, even if the father has offered to pay for the abortion"
You have alternatives to abortion, including keeping the baby or placing the baby for adoption.
You are free to withhold or withdraw your consent to the abortion at any time before or during the abortion without affecting your right to future care or treatment and without the loss of any State or federally funded benefits to which you might otherwise be entitled.
When you come for your abortion, you will need to sign a statement saying that you have heard this information at least 24 hours before your abortion.