Alaska health officials have launched a new abortion informed consent Web site, which is required under a law (SB 30) that was signed last year, the AP/Anchorage Daily News reports. Alaska physicians now are required to show patients seeking abortions the Web site, printed information from the site or other information that meets specific requirements in order to obtain informed consent. In May, a five-member OB/GYN panel approved language for the Web site and added some content suggested during a public comment period. During the public comment period, the issues of fetal pain and a possible link between abortion and an increased risk of breast cancer were debated. Health officials said the resulting site keeps with the "mandate for medically accurate information," according to the AP/Daily News (Volz, AP/Anchorage Daily News, 8/20).

Web Site Details
The law establishing the Web site requires it to include information about fetal development; photographs of a fetus at four-week gestational increments; descriptions of various abortion procedures; possible risks and complications, including physical and psychological effects, associated with abortion procedures and childbirth; eligibility requirements for medical assistance benefits; child support orders; and various contraceptive options. In addition, the law requires that all information included on the site be objective, unbiased and approved by a group of OB/GYN specialists appointed by the state medical board (Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report, 5/25). The site offers lists of support services across the state and references for further reading. Information on the site must be reviewed and updated each year, according to the law (AP/Anchorage Daily News, 8/20).