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By Ms. Fox of Boston, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1424) of Gloria L. Fox and others relative to the care of pregnant women in correctional facilities. The Judiciary. |
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PETITION OF:
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By Ms. Fox of Boston, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1424) of Gloria L. Fox and others relative to the care of pregnant women in correctional facilities. The Judiciary. |
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PETITION OF:
Willie Mae Allen
William N. Brownsberger
Ruth B. Balser
William Lantigua
Elizabeth A. Malia
Kay Khan
Marie P. St. Fleur
Susan C. Fargo
Barbara A. L'Italien
Alice K. Wolf
Anthony J. Verga
Edward M. Augustus, Jr.
Patricia D. Jehlen
Byron Rushing
Ellen Story
Christine E. Canavan
Jennifer M. Callahan
Dianne Wilkerson
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In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.
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An Act relative to the care of pregnant women in correctional facilities. |
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
SECTION 1. Chapter 127 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out section 118 and inserting in place thereof the following section:—
Section 118. Whenever it is determined that a female confined in any correctional facility is pregnant, adequate prenatal care shall be made available. Such care shall include but not be limited to frequent pre-natal visits to a physician, any medical or nutritional items determined to be necessary by a physician, counseling and parent training, access to milk, fruits and any programs available to pregnant women, such as WIC and foreign language interpreters if needed. Whenever it appears that a female confined in any correctional facility, is about to give birth to a child, the physician of the institution where the inmate is confined shall send to the commissioner a certificate of her condition, and the commissioner shall thereupon order her removal to a hospital near the institution where she is confined, but in no case shall such female be removed to the Tewksbury hospital or to any penal or reformatory institution for the purpose of giving birth. An inmate so
removed shall be kept in such hospital until the physician thereof shall certify to said commissioner that she is fully recovered and no longer in need of medical attention, whereupon the commissioner shall issue an order for her return to the correctional facility. Postnatal examinations by a physician shall be made until such a physician shall certify to said commissioner that such examinations are not necessary.