Bill

A 1039

Establishes a duty to inform certain patients about the risks associated with cesarean section for patients undergoing a primary cesarean section

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn and 11 co-sponsors

Reforms informed consent by requiring providers to inform patients undergoing a first cesarean section about the associated risks.

REFERRED TO HEALTH

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Bill Summary · A 1039

Summary of Bill A 1039

Overview

Bill A 1039 would establish a legal duty for healthcare providers to inform patients about the risks associated with cesarean section for individuals undergoing a primary cesarean section. The bill focuses on enhancing informed consent processes related to initial cesarean deliveries.

Status and procedural timeline

Introduced: January 8, 2025
Status: Referred to the Committee on Health
Legislative actions: Listed as “REFERRED TO HEALTH” on January 8, 2025 (the actions appear twice in the record)

Related legislation

Prior-session and companion bills include S 311, A 4927, S 7879 (companion), S 2888, S 2736, and A 10809. The multiple related bills suggest ongoing interest in reforming informed consent related to cesarean deliveries across sessions.

What the bill would do (key provisions)

Establish a duty to inform: Requires healthcare providers to inform patients who are undergoing a primary cesarean section about the risks associated with cesarean delivery.
Scope of duty: The bill’s title indicates the duty applies specifically to patients undergoing their first cesarean section, though the precise regulatory scope (e.g., which providers, settings, or procedures) would be defined in the full text.
Informed consent framework: The duty is framed as part of the informed consent process, though exact modalities (oral versus written notice, timing relative to surgery, and documentation requirements) are not specified in the information provided and would be detailed in the statute’s text.

Who is affected

Primary impact: Patients undergoing a first (primary) cesarean section.
Healthcare providers and entities: Obstetricians, surgical teams, hospitals, clinics, and other entities involved in providing cesarean deliveries, particularly those responsible for obtaining informed consent and communicating surgical risks.
Administrative/clinical staff: Individuals tasked with ensuring that information is conveyed and properly documented.

Implementation considerations

Timeline: Specific effective date and any phase-in period would be defined in the bill’s full text.
Documentation and compliance: The bill would likely require some form of documentation to confirm that patients were informed, though exact requirements (forms, checklists, or electronic records) are not detailed here.
Fiscal impact: No fiscal details are provided in the summary; actual costs or funding implications would depend on the bill’s final text and any administrative rules.

Summary assessment

A 1039 aims to strengthen patient informed consent by mandating that information about cesarean risks be communicated to patients undergoing a primary cesarean section. The bill aligns with ongoing legislative interest across related measures and companion bills, and its passage would likely influence preoperative counseling practices and documentation standards for cesarean deliveries. For complete specifics (format, timing, and documentation), the full bill text and committee analyses should be consulted.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.