You MUST PRINT OUT The State confirmation MORE than 24 hours before your abortion appointment and bring it with you to your appointment. If you don’t print this out WE CANNOT PERFORM YOUR ABORTION (this is Michigan law). You must bring the paperwork with you to your appointment.

If you do not have a printer, you may come to the clinic and pick up the information MORE than 24 hours (24 hours not the night before) before your abortion appointment. Viewing the information does not satisfy the state law.

You can also obtain this information at our Clinic.

You are also required by law to receive the verbal State-scripted information which we provide when you make your appointment.

Women wishing to have an abortion in Michigan are required by the state, to receive both written and verbal State-scripted information at least 24 hours before the procedure. While Northland Family Planning Centers has always provided –and continues to provide – our patients with helpful and informative decision-making information, the state required materials are not our informed consent materials.

We believe the state passed this law (in 1999), not in the best interest of women, but to make abortion more difficult to obtain. We also believe that some of the State-scripted information is misleading and inaccurate. Therefore, we promise to continue to provide women with our own accurate and non-judgmental informed consent information on the day of their appointment.

We know having to follow the 24-hour waiting period is a hassle. We know you are making, or have made, this pregnancy decision thoughtfully, but – in order to have an abortion – you must receive the verbal State-scripted information and the State-written version of abortion information 24 hours before your abortion appointment.

Don’t forget to review our Pre-Surgery Instructions.

Following The Law
There are two (2) parts to this law.

You are required by law to receive the verbal State-scripted information and to receive or review the State-written version of abortion information 24 hours before your abortion appointment.

You can count on us to not only follow the law, but to also welcome you into a comfortable and safe place to receive the most accurate information, most compassionate care and the highest quality medical treatment with the dignity and respect you deserve.

• You must listen to the State-scripted verbal information:
  When you call for information or to schedule your appointment, we will follow the law, explain the requirements, and read you the State-scripted statement.
• You must receive or review the State-written version of abortion information 24 hours before your abortion appointment.
  There are three ways to get the state required information:
  • Come in and we can give you a copy.
  • Call and we can fax a copy to you.
  • Review the information on the State of Michigan web site and bring in a completed Informed Consent Confirmation Form.

If you choose the State website:
If you choose the State web site State of Michigan Dept of Comm Health for the State-required information, it can be confusing. And there are extra requirements. Here are some user-friendly tips we’ve developed because many of our patients have complained that the instructions on the State’s website are not clear.

You are required to scroll through the entire web site but legally you don’t have to read it. You must follow each step; you cannot just skip to the end. The link we’ve provided will take you to the homepage of the Department of Community Health’s page on Michigan’s Informed Consent law. Scroll down to begin the review of the documents.

Step 1:

You will have four choices: choose the method of abortion you will be using. Medical Abortion using Mifepristone and Misoprostol; Medication-Induced Abortion; Dilation and Evacuation (D&E) or Suction Curettage.

Northland patients: Choose either Medical Abortion (RU-486 or Abortion Pill), D&E or Suction Curettage. DO NOT SELECT Medication-Induced Abortion (saline) as we do not use this method.

Step 2:

You will then be directed to go to the Fetal Development links page. Click on the number of weeks on the Fetal Development Index page that most closely matches the fetus’ gestational age, using your last menstrual period or recent sonogram (ultrasound) as a guide.

Step 3:

You will have two choices:

1. A list of clinics offering free ultrasound: THESE ARE NOT WOMEN’S ABORTION HEALTH CLINICS! THEY ARE CRISIS PREGNANCY CENTERS THAT ARE AGAINST WOMEN HAVING ABORTIONS. THE INFORMATION PROVIDED TO YOU BY THESE CLINICS WILL NOT BE FAIR AND UNBIASED.

2. OR WE SUGGEST you choose to proceed to Step 3, the pre-natal care page.

• Scroll down and select Step 4, Parenting.
• Scroll down to Step 5, the Informed Consent Confirmation Form.On this page, you will see that a date and time have been added in. You must print this page and bring it in with you.
• To print, go to the top of the screen, just below the Department of Community Health banner and click on Printer Friendly. THIS IS THE CORRECT FORM. If you bring the wrong form, you will not be able to have your abortion that day. If that happens, we have to give you a new informed consent packet and you have to wait an additional 24 hours.
  (Note: there is an option on the site called Related Content with a form. This is the wrong form. It will be given to you when you come to the clinic. You do not need to print it out.)

Sample form
Below is a sample of the INFORMED CONSENT CONFIRMATION FORM that must be printed out from the State website. This is not the actual form. It is only a sample. Please print out the form from the State website that looks like this Sample Form and bring it with you to your appointment.

Click on this link: Sample Form

Again, the State website can be reached by clicking on the following link: State of Michigan

We’re here for you!
If you have any questions about this process or the Michigan law, please call us during regular business hours. 1-800-447-7354

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