AK HB266

Physicians performing abortions must use the method most likely to result in the child surviving after removal from the womb, unless doing so presents a serious risk to the pregnant woman's life or health, based on the physician's clinical judgment.

Any health care practitioner present when a child is removed alive from the womb must exercise the same degree of professional skill and care to preserve the child's life and health as would be provided to a child born alive at the same fetal age.

Defines "alive" as a child having spontaneous respiratory or cardiac function or umbilical cord pulsation after birth or removal from the womb, regardless of whether the umbilical cord has been cut.

Allows a parent to surrender a child removed from the womb alive to the physician or hospital employee, with notification required to the Department of Health and Social Services under existing safe haven laws.

Establishes that a child removed from the mother's womb alive during an abortion, where the parent is unwilling or unable to care for the child, may be found to be a child in need of aid by the court.