The Dignity for Aborted Children Act requires abortion providers to obtain informed consent for disposal of fetal tissue through either patient retention or provider-arranged interment/cremation within seven days. Providers must submit annual reports to HHS, with civil penalties for documentation failures and criminal penalties for disposal violations.
Latest Action
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
AI Summary
Plain-English explanation of this bill
The Dignity for Aborted Children Act requires abortion providers to obtain informed consent for disposal of fetal tissue through either patient retention or provider-arranged interment/cremation within seven days. Providers must submit annual reports to HHS, with civil penalties for documentation failures and criminal penalties for disposal violations.
Last updated: 1/4/2026
Official Summary
Congressional Research Service summary
<p><strong>Dignity for Aborted Children Act</strong></p><p>This bill establishes requirements for abortion providers with respect to the disposal of human fetal tissue from an abortion.</p><p>Specifically, it requires abortion providers to obtain a patient's informed consent for one of two specified methods of disposition and to retain the corresponding documentation in the patient's file.</p><p>First, patients may choose to retain possession of the tissue. A patient may choose to transfer the tissue to an entity that provides interment or cremation services.</p><p>Second, patients may choose to release the tissue to the provider. Providers must ensure any tissue released to them is interred or cremated within seven days of the procedure in a manner consistent with state law regarding the disposal of human remains.</p><p>Abortion providers must submit reports annually to the Department of Health and Human Services about these requirements and other specified information.</p><p>The bill establishes civil penalties for violations of the requirement to retain documentation of informed consent, and it establishes criminal penalties for violations of the requirement regarding the disposal of human fetal tissue.</p>
Key Points
Main provisions of the bill
Requires informed consent for tissue disposal
Patient can retain or release tissue
Provider must inter or cremate within 7 days
Annual reporting to HHS required
Civil penalties for documentation failures
Criminal penalties for disposal violations
How This Impacts Americans
Potential effects on citizens and communities
This bill imposes specific requirements on the handling of fetal tissue from abortions, framing disposal in terms used for human remains. Supporters argue it provides dignity and closure for patients. Critics contend it adds unnecessary burdens on abortion providers and patients, potentially making abortions less accessible. The criminal penalties make this more than a regulatory requirement.
