Information on Abortion Procedures – Informed Consent

According to Kansas state law, at least 24 hours prior to an abortion procedure, patients must receive information on a variety of topics related to having an abortion. This includes:

• The name of the physician who will perform the abortion (Dr. Traci Nauser or Dr. Tristan Fowler).
• A description of the proposed abortion method.
• Description of the risks related to the proposed abortion method.
• A handbook titled, If You Are Pregnant.
• Directory titled, If You Are Pregnant: Directory of Available Services.
• The probable gestational age of the fetus at the time the abortion is to be performed.
• The probable anatomical and physiological characteristics of the fetus at the time the abortion is to be performed.
• The medical risks associated with carrying a fetus to term.
• Any need for Anti-Rh immune globulin therapy.

ACCORDING TO KANSAS LAW:

1. INFORMATIONAL MATERIALS are available in printed form and online at www.womansrighttoknow.org and www.kansaswomansrighttoknow.org, describing the unborn child and listing agencies which offer alternatives to abortion with a special section listing adoption services, and a list of providers of free ultrasound services.
   
   
2. ALTERNATIVES to ABORTION include: parenting, foster care and adoption. Medical assistance benefits may be available for prenatal care, childbirth, and neonatal care. More detailed information on the availability of such assistance is contained in the printed informational materials you received from Center for Women’s Health, or online at the following sites: www.womansrighttoknow.org and www.kansaswomansrighttoknow.org,
   
   
3. “…the father of the unborn child is liable to assist in the support of her child even in instances where he has offered to pay for the abortion…”
   
   
4. “…the abortion will terminate the life of a whole, separate, unique, living human being…”
   
   
5. “…the woman is free to withhold or withdraw her consent to the abortion at any time prior to the invasion of the uterus without affecting her right to future care or treatment and without the loss of any state or federally funded benefits to which she might otherwise be entitled…”
   
   
6. “…No person shall perform or induce an abortion when the unborn child is viable (>22 weeks) unless such person is a physician and has a documented referral from another physician not legally or financially affiliated with the physician performing or inducing the abortion and both physicians determine that: 1) the abortion is necessary to preserve the life of the pregnant woman; or 2) a continuation of pregnancy will cause substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman…” And, “…No person shall perform or induce a partial birth abortion on a viable unborn child (>22 weeks) unless such person is a physician and has documented referral from another physician not legally or financially affiliated with the physician performing or inducing the abortion and both physicians determine that: 1) the abortion is necessary to preserve the life of the pregnant woman; 2) a continuation of pregnancy will cause substantial and irreversible impairment of a major physical or mental function of the pregnant woman…” If the child is born alive, the attending physician has the legal obligation to take all reasonable steps necessary to maintain the life and health of the child…”
   
   
7. Per Kansas Law Section 1. K.S.A. 2016 Supp 65-6709 amended 7/1/2017, The following will be received by a patient seeking a pregnancy termination at least 24 hours before the procedure.  This shall be provided on WHITE PAPER in a printed format in BLACK INK with 12 –POINT TIMES NEW ROMAN font via the practice website: www.hodesnauser.com.  Traci L Nauser, MD will be the physician who is to perform the abortion. She received her medical degree in 1994.  She has been employed at the Center for Women’s Health since August 1, 1998. Dr. Nauser has had no disciplinary action by the Kansas Board of Healing Arts. Dr. Nauser carries malpractice insurance as required by the state of Kansas. She has clinical staff privileges at Menorah Medical Center (August 26, 1998), Saint Luke’s South Hospital (January 1, 1999), and Overland Park Regional Medical Center (September 4, 1998).  She has not lost privileges at any hospital.  Dr. Nauser is a resident of the state of Kansas.
   
   Per Kansas Law Section 1. K.S.A. 2016 Supp 65-6709 amended 7/1/2017, The following will be received by a patient seeking a pregnancy termination at least 24 hours before the procedure. This shall be provided on WHITE PAPER in a printed format in BLACK INK with 12 –POINT TIMES NEW ROMAN font via the practice website: www.hodesnauser.com. Tristan Fowler, DO will be the physician who is to perform the abortion. He received his medical degree in 2016. He has been employed at the Center for Women’s Health since August 2020. Dr. Fowler has had no disciplinary action by the Kansas Board of Healing Arts. Dr. Fowler carries malpractice insurance as required by the state of Kansas. He has clinical staff privileges at Menorah Medical Center (September 16, 2020), Saint Luke’s South Hospital (September 23,2020). He has not lost privileges at any hospital. Dr. Fowler is a resident of the state of Missouri.

Notice

It is against the law for anyone, regardless of their relationship to you, to force you to have an abortion. By law, we cannot perform an abortion on you unless we have your freely given and voluntary consent. It is against the law to perform an abortion on you against your will. You have the right to contact any local or state law enforcement agency to receive protection from any actual or threatened physical abuse or violence. You have the right to change your mind at any time prior to the actual abortion and request that the abortion procedure cease. It is unlawful for anyone to make you have an abortion against your will, even if you are a minor.  The father of your child must provide support for the child, even if he has offered to pay for an abortion. If you decide not to have an abortion, you may qualify for financial help for pregnancy, childbirth and newborn care. If you qualify, Medicaid will pay or help pay the cost of doctor, clinic, hospital and other related medical expenses, including childbirth delivery services and care for your newborn baby.  Many agencies are willing to provide assistance so that you may carry your child to term, and to assist you after your child’s birth.

Abortion Aftercare Instructions

Be sure to listen to your body for the next few days.  What you are experiencing could be normal.  If you have questions, be sure to call our office at 913-491-6878.   Failure to call us may lead to a delay in the proper treatment and could cause further complications.  You may not hold us responsible for problems or other medical expenses if you obtain treatment elsewhere, without our prior instruction to do so. Patients are often given wrong information by well-meaning friends, an emergency room doctor, or other health care sources.  Please call our office first if you have any questions or problems.

Keep active following the procedure.  Do not go home and go to bed. Resume your normal activities immediately.  If you have a long car ride home, plan to stop and walk every hour. To eliminate uterine clots, it will help if you massage or rub your uterus from time to time.

Complications after D&Cs are very rare.  You can prevent infection or other problems by following the instructions we give you and by using good common sense.  Do not use tampons, and change your pads frequently.

In order to prevent infection, do not use tampons, douche, take tub baths, swim or have sex (even sex with condoms) until your 2-3 week post-op check-up.  In addition, take all of the antibiotics that you are given.  Do not take the antibiotic with dairy products. The antibiotic can make your skin more sensitive to the sun, so use caution outdoors.  If you have been given any other medication, take as directed.

It is common to have light bleeding or spotting on and off for a week or two after the procedure. This is not a menstrual period, but the effects of hormonal changes and your uterus going back to its normal size.  The bleeding may be red to brown to almost black.  It can occur daily, or stop for a day or two, then start up again unpredictably — all of this is normal. If you have started a birth control method, keep using it as directed. However, if the bleeding is heavy (soaking through a regular pad every hour) call the office immediately at 913-491-6878.

If you experience any of the following problems, call our office at once:

• Heavy bright red bleeding (over 1 regular pad per hour)
• Severe cramps not relieved by rubbing and massaging your uterus, and taking 800mg of ibuprofen (4 Motrin® or 2 Aleve® tablets), especially if you are not bleeding at all – Tylenol®, Midol®, or Pamprin® do not work nearly as well
• Passage of bright red blood clots larger than an egg
• A foul-smelling, or greenish vaginal discharge
• Fever of over 100.6°F  (Don’t guess — use a thermometer)

When calling after regular business hours, make sure you properly enter your phone number as prompted by our answering service. Turn off your answering machine and/or call blocking. Do not go to an emergency room without calling our office first.

If we do not return your call in 10 to 15 minutes, please call back. When you call the office, be prepared with the phone number of a pharmacy that is open, in case we need to call in a prescription for you.