RS 1061.19 - Records
A. In addition to any other duty that may be imposed by state law or regulations, each physician who performs or induces an abortion, the medical director of the facility where an abortion is performed or induced, the administrator of an abortion facility, each abortion facility, and each owner of an abortion facility shall have an independent duty to ensure that a designated custodian of records for the facility obtains, retains, and makes part of the medical record of each pregnant woman upon whom an abortion is performed or induced at least one copy of each of the following documents:
(1) The certificate required by R.S. 40:1061.13.
(2) If the pregnant woman is an unemancipated minor, one of the following:
(a) A notarized consent form and copies of identification as provided for in R.S. 40:1061.14(A)(1).
(b) A court order required by R.S. 40:1061.14(B), if applicable.
(3) The consent form required by R.S. 40:1061.17.
(4) The reports required by R.S. 40:1061.21.
(5) The certificate required by R.S. 40:1061.23, if applicable.
(6) The signed certification form provided for in R.S. 40:1061.16(C) indicating that the woman or minor female acknowledged receipt of informational materials concerning psychological impacts, illegal coercion, abuse, and human trafficking.
(7) Any report made pursuant to Title VI of the Children's Code and any other report made to law enforcement in relation to the patient.
B. The individuals listed in Subsection A of this Section and the abortion facility shall each have an independent duty to ensure that the custodian of records for the abortion facility where the abortion was performed or induced retains the documents required in Subsection A of this Section for not less than seven years for adult patients and not less than ten years from the age of majority for minor patients. The ten-year period for minors shall begin to run when the patient attains the age of eighteen; provided, however, that in any case where the patient has reported facts that would require reporting under Title VI of the Children's Code, the retention period shall be thirty years.
C. For purposes of this Section, "owner" shall include each person with an ownership interest totaling five percent or more in an abortion facility.
D.(1) Any person who intentionally or negligently fails to comply with the requirements of this Section or any duty recognized therein shall be subject to the penalties provided for in R.S. 40:1061.29.
(2) Any abortion facility that fails to comply with the requirements of this Section or any duty recognized therein shall be subject to the penalties provided for in R.S. 40:1061.29.
(3) Each medical record that does not include the documents identified in Subsection A of this Section, or which is not retained for the time specified in Subsection B of this Section, shall constitute a separate incidence or occurrence for purposes of R.S. 40:1061.29, and shall constitute a continuing violation until the relevant retention period specified in Subsection B of this Section has expired.
E.(1) In addition to the remedies provided in this Section and any other remedies available under the laws of this state, a person listed in Subsection A of this Section who, either intentionally or with negligence, fails to obtain, make part of a medical record, or retain any document in compliance with this Section may be temporarily or permanently disqualified from performing or inducing an abortion, applying for a medical facility license, or otherwise operating or managing a medical facility in this state.
(2) For purposes of this Subsection, "operating" or "managing" shall include acting as an owner, governing board member, physician, medical director, administrator, or in any comparable role or title in which the individual has executive responsibility for the medical facility or has professional medical responsibility for patient care.
F. Each abortion facility, as a condition of obtaining and maintaining a license under R.S. 40:2175.1 et seq., shall establish a written record retention and archiving policy, which shall be submitted within thirty days of June 22, 2019, to the department. The department shall review and approve the policy within ninety days of its receipt. During the pendency of the ninety days, the facility shall be deemed in compliance with this Section and if the department fails to act within ninety days of receipt of the proposed policy, the policy shall be deemed approved. The policy shall be signed by the individuals identified in Subsection A of this Section who shall acknowledge their legal obligations and acknowledge receiving a copy of the policy.
G. A person may comply with this Section by depositing a copy of each document required by Subsection A of this Section with the department in an organized and readily accessible format. The department shall have a cause of action against the persons identified in Subsection A of this Section for the reasonably anticipated cost of storing the documents for the required period of time, for which those persons shall be liable in solido.
Added by Acts 1978, No. 435, §1. Amended by Acts 1980, No. 418, §1; Acts 1981, No. 774, §1, eff. July 23, 1981; Acts 2014, No. 569, §2, special eff. date; Redesignated from R.S. 40:1299.35.8 by HCR 84 of 2015 R.S; Acts 2017, No. 165, §1; Acts 2019, No. 435, §1, eff. June 22, 2019.
NOTE: See Acts 2014, No. 569, §3, regarding effective date.