§ 39-15-208 — Research, photography, and experimentation upon aborted fetuses - Sale of aborted fetuses or aborted fetal tissue prohibited - Penalty for violation

(a) It is unlawful for any person, agency, corporation, partnership or association to engage in medical experiments, research, or the taking of photographs upon an aborted fetus without the prior knowledge and written consent of the mother; provided, however, that prior knowledge and consent of the mother shall not be required when a person is taking photographs of the aborted fetus for the purpose of capturing images that the person reasonably believes depict evidence of a violation of a state or federal law, rule, or regulation. (b) No person, agency, corporation, partnership, or association shall offer money, or anything of value, for an aborted fetus or aborted fetal tissue; nor shall any person, agency, corporation, partnership, or association accept any money or anything of value for an aborted fetus or aborted fetal tissue, or offer or accept any reimbursement of any costs associated with the preparation, preservation, transfer, shipping, or handling of an aborted fetus or aborted fetal tissue. (c) It is the express intent of the general assembly that nothing in this section shall be construed to grant to a fetus any legal right not possessed by a fetus prior to July 1, 1979. (d) A violation of this section is punishable as a Class E felony.

Legislative History

Amended by 2016 Tenn. Acts, ch. 1003,s 2, eff. 4/27/2016. Amended by 2016 Tenn. Acts, ch. 986,s 1, eff. 7/1/2016. Acts 1989, ch. 591, § 1.