The Pennsylvania Abortion Control Act was passed in 1989 (due to the determined efforts of Rep. Steve Freind from Havertown, Delaware County) but was held up by court injunction until 1994.

This resulted in the sharpest drop in the daily abortion rate. It dropped more than 22% in four years.
As a result, Pennsylvania was among the nation’s leaders with the third-fastest declining abortion rate in the nation.

• Abortion for unemancipated (supporting herself) minors (less than 18 years of age) requires the informed consent of both the pregnant woman and one parent prior to an abortion. If both of the parents or guardians of the pregnant woman refuse to consent…or if she elects not to seek the consent…the court of common pleas of the judicial district in which the applicant resides or in which the abortion is sought shall…authorize…the abortion if the court determines that the pregnant woman is mature and capable of giving informed consent. (Judicial Bypass).
  
• Women are provided a right to know for informed consent 24 hours prior to an abortion. Informed consent is designed to insure that when people make important medical decisions, they have been told the truth and have been truly informed.
  
• Abortion is legal for any reason by any means during the first six months of pregnancy, the second trimester abortions must be done in a hospital, but in the last trimester of pregnancy abortion is restricted only to cases that affect the life or the health of the mother is seriously threatened.
  
• For the purpose of promotion of maternal health, a report of each abortion performed shall be made to state officials. The report forms shall not identify the individual patient by name and shall include the following information:
  
  1. Identification of physician.
  2. The county and state in which the woman resides.
  3. The woman’s age.
  4. The number of prior pregnancies and prior abortions of the woman.
  5. The gestational age of the unborn child at the time of the abortion.
  6. The type of procedure performed or prescribed and the date of the abortion.
  
• The abortionist must offer the woman information about:
  
  1. The gestation of the unborn child.
  2. The physical dangers of abortion for her health. Abortion is an invasive procedure.
  3. The opportunity to view her child on an ultrasound. Studies show that when a woman in crisis has a chance to view her unborn baby on the ultrasound screen, 85% will decide against abortion.
  4. Alternatives available to the woman, including financial assistance if she bears the child. * The mother is allowed under law to refuse any or all of this information, but the law requires the abortionist to make it available.
  5. Information about adoption options.
  
• The woman then must wait 24 hours to reflect on her decision before the abortion can be performed.

*The Delaware Valley Pro-Life Alliance – DVPLA – has a 24 hour hotline – 610-626-4006.

The DVPLA are agencies that share a common desire to provide real, practical options that include pregnancy testing and counseling, comprehensive pre-natal and post-natal care, housing assistance, family support, post-abortion counseling, and adoption services.