Ohio Code § 2919.151
Ohio Code § 2919.151. Reproduced from the official Ohio Revised Code, with a citation summary, verification link, and related provisions.
§ 2919.151.
(A) As used in this section: (1) “ From the body of the mother ” means that the portion of the fetus' body in question is beyond the mother's vaginal
introitus in a vaginal delivery. (2) “ Partial birth procedure ” means the medical procedure that includes all of the following elements in sequence: (a) Intentional dilation of the cervix of a pregnant woman, usually over a sequence of
days; (b) In a breech presentation, intentional extraction of at least the lower torso to the
navel, but not the entire body, of an intact fetus from the body of the mother, or
in a cephalic presentation, intentional extraction of at least the complete head,
but not the entire body, of an intact fetus from the body of the mother; (c) Intentional partial evacuation of the intracranial contents of the fetus, which procedure
the person performing the procedure knows will cause the death of the fetus, intentional
compression of the head of the fetus, which procedure the person performing the procedure
knows will cause the death of the fetus, or performance of another intentional act
that the person performing the procedure knows will cause the death of the fetus; (d) Completion of the vaginal delivery of the fetus. (3) “ Partially born ” means that the portion of the body of an intact fetus described in division (A)(3)(b)
of this section has been intentionally extracted from the body of the mother. (4) “ Serious risk of the substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function ” means any medically diagnosed condition that so complicates the pregnancy of the
woman as to directly or indirectly cause the substantial and irreversible impairment
of a major bodily function. (5) “Viable” has the same meaning as in section 2901.01 of the Revised Code . (B) When the fetus that is the subject of the procedure is viable, no person shall knowingly
perform a partial birth procedure on a pregnant woman when the procedure is not necessary,
in reasonable medical judgment, to preserve the life or health of the mother as a
result of the mother's life or health being endangered by a serious risk of the substantial
and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function. (C) When the fetus that is the subject of the procedure is not viable, no person shall
knowingly perform a partial birth procedure on a pregnant woman when the procedure
is not necessary, in reasonable medical judgment, to preserve the life or health of
the mother as a result of the mother's life or health being endangered by a serious
risk of the substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function. (D) Whoever violates division (B) or (C) of this section is guilty of partial birth feticide,
a felony of the second degree. (E) A pregnant woman upon whom a partial birth procedure is performed in violation of
division (B) or (C) of this section is not guilty of committing, attempting to commit,
complicity in the commission of, or conspiracy in the commission of a violation of
those divisions. (F) This section does not prohibit the suction curettage procedure of abortion or the
suction aspiration procedure of abortion. (G) This section does not apply to any person who performs or attempts to perform a legal
abortion if the act that causes the death of the fetus is performed prior to the fetus
being partially born even though the death of the fetus occurs after it is partially
born.
Source: official Ohio text · Last verified 2026-08-27
At a glance
- Citation: Ohio Revised Code § 2919.151
- Jurisdiction: Ohio
- Code: Ohio Revised Code
- Text: transcribed from the official source (verify below)
Verify the text
Statute text is transcribed from the official Ohio Revised Code. Confirm it against the primary source before relying on it:
Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed Ohio attorney.
Common questions
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The text above is transcribed from the Ohio Revised Code, the codified statutes of Ohio. The official publisher link appears under "Verify the text" on this page.
What subject does Ohio Revised Code § 2919.151 address?
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