§ 20-16-1302 — Definitions

Arkansas § 20-16-1302

• Jurisdiction: Arkansas
• Title: 20

Text

As used in this subchapter: (1) "Contraceptive" means a device, drug, or chemical that prevents fertilization; (2) "Fetus" means the human offspring developing during pregnancy from the moment of fertilization and includes the embryonic stage of development; (3) "Heartbeat" means cardiac activity, the steady and repetitive rhythmic contraction of the fetal heart within the gestational sac; (4) "Human individual" means an individual organism of the species Homo sapiens; (5) "Major bodily function" includes without limitation functions of the immune system, normal cell growth, and digestive, bowel, bladder, neurological, brain, respiratory, circulatory, endocrine, and reproductive functions; (6) "Medical emergency" means a condition in which an abortion is necessary: (A) To preserve the life of the pregnant woman whose life is endangered by a physical disorder, physical illness, or physical injury, including a life-endangering physical condition caused by or arising from the pregnancy itself, or when continuation of the pregnancy will create a serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman; or (B) Due to the existence of a highly lethal fetal disorder as defined by the Arkansas State Medical Board; (7) "Pregnancy" means the human female reproductive condition that begins with fertilization when the female is carrying the developing human offspring and is calculated from the first day of the last menstrual period of the human female; and (8) "Viability" means a medical condition that begins with a detectible fetal heartbeat.

Legislative History

Added by Act 2013, No. 301,§ 1, eff. 8/16/2013.