By Ms. Kennedy, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1563) of Robyn K. Kennedy, Rebecca L. Rausch, Joanne M. Comerford, Susannah M. Whipps and other members of the General Court for legislation to prioritize patient access to care based upon the professional judgment of the physician.. Public Health.
Summary up to date
Generates a plain-language summary of the bill text and history.
No summary yet. Click the button to generate one.
Date
Branch
Action
3/12/2026
Senate
3/12/2026 SenateCommittee recommended ought to pass and referred to the committee on Senate Ways and Means
1/8/2026
Senate
1/8/2026 SenateBill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Health Care Financing
6/30/2025
Joint
6/30/2025 JointHearing scheduled for 07/10/2025 from 09:00 AM-01:00 PM in A-1
2/27/2025
House
2/27/2025 HouseHouse concurred
2/27/2025
Senate
2/27/2025 SenateReferred to the committee on Public Health
Section 12N of Chapter 112 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 1 through 9, the words “no abortion may be performed except by a physician, and only if in the best medical judgment of the physician it is: (i) necessary to preserve the life of the patient; (ii) necessary to preserve the patient's physical or mental health; (iii) warranted because of a lethal fetal anomaly or diagnosis; or (iv) warranted because of a grave fetal diagnosis that indicates that the fetus is incompatible with sustained life outside of the uterus without extraordinary medical interventions.” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- an abortion may be performed when based upon the professional judgment of the physician.
▸SECTION 2
Section 12N1/2 of said chapter 112, as so appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines1 through 4 the words “(a) Each circumstance permitting an abortion for a pregnancy that has existed for 24 weeks or more under section 12N shall be considered independently by a treating physician and a patient or the patient's health care proxy.”
▸SECTION 3
Said section 12N1/2 of said chapter 112, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 5, the words “a determination by” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “the professional judgment of”.
▸SECTION 4
Said section 12N1/2 of said chapter 112, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out subsection (b).
▸SECTION 5
Section 12P of said chapter 112, as so appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby further amended by striking out the second paragraph.
Show raw text
SECTION 1. Section 12N of Chapter 112 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 1 through 9, the words “no abortion may be performed except by a physician, and only if in the best medical judgment of the physician it is: (i) necessary to preserve the life of the patient; (ii) necessary to preserve the patient's physical or mental health; (iii) warranted because of a lethal fetal anomaly or diagnosis; or (iv) warranted because of a grave fetal diagnosis that indicates that the fetus is incompatible with sustained life outside of the uterus without extraordinary medical interventions.” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- an abortion may be performed when based upon the professional judgment of the physician.
SECTION 2. Section 12N1/2 of said chapter 112, as so appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines1 through 4 the words “(a) Each circumstance permitting an abortion for a pregnancy that has existed for 24 weeks or more under section 12N shall be considered independently by a treating physician and a patient or the patient's health care proxy.”
SECTION 3. Said section 12N1/2 of said chapter 112, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 5, the words “a determination by” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “the professional judgment of”.
SECTION 4. Said section 12N1/2 of said chapter 112, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out subsection (b).
SECTION 5. Section 12P of said chapter 112, as so appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby further amended by striking out the second paragraph.