Arkansas Code Annotated
Ark. Code Ann. § 20-16-2103 (2026)
Prohibition — Down Syndrome
✓ current as of May 2026
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A physician shall not intentionally perform or attempt to perform an abortion with the knowledge that a pregnant woman is seeking an abortion solely on the basis of:
- A test result indicating Down Syndrome in an unborn child;
- A prenatal diagnosis of Down Syndrome in an unborn child; or
- Any other reason to believe that an unborn child has Down Syndrome.
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- Before performing an abortion, the physician performing the abortion shall ask the pregnant woman if she is aware of any test results, prenatal diagnosis, or any other evidence that the unborn child may have Down Syndrome.
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If the pregnant woman knows of any test results, prenatal diagnosis, or any other evidence that the unborn child may have Down Syndrome, the physician who is performing the abortion shall:
- Inform the pregnant woman of the prohibition of abortion contained in subsection (a) of this section; and
- Request the medical records of the pregnant woman relevant to determining whether she has previously aborted an unborn child or children after she became aware of any test results, prenatal diagnosis, or any other evidence that the unborn child may have had Down Syndrome.
- When the physician performing the abortion is required to request the medical records of the pregnant women under subdivision (b)(2)(B) of this section, the physician shall not perform an abortion until the physician spends at least fourteen (14) days to obtain the medical records described in subdivision (b)(2)(B) of this section.
- If this section is held invalid as applied to the period of pregnancy prior to viability, then this section shall remain applicable to the period of pregnancy subsequent to viability.
- This section does not apply to an abortion performed on a pregnant woman if the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest.
History. Acts 2019, No. 619, § 1.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 4
cases (4 in the last 5 years), 2021–2021 · leading case: Little Rock Fam. Plan. Svcs v. Leslie Rutledge, 984 F.3d 682 (8th Cir. 2021).
Little Rock Fam. Plan. Svcs v. Leslie Rutledge, 984 F.3d 682 (8th Cir. 2021). “(2) Act 619, codified at Ark. Code Ann. § 20-16-2103 , prohibits a provider from intentionally performing an abortion with knowledge that the pregnant woman is seeking the abortion “solely on the basis” of a test indicating Down syndrome or any other reason to believe that the…”
Memphis Ctr. for Reprod. Health v. Herbert Slatery, III, 14 F.4th 409 (6th Cir. 2021). “§ 41-41-407 (1) (mandating that doctors “first confirm[] that the abortion is not being sought because of” a protected characteristic).”
Little Rock Fam. Plan. Svcs v. Leslie Rutledge (8th Cir. 2021). “(2) Act 619, codified at Ark. Code Ann. § 20-16-2103 , prohibits a provider from intentionally performing an abortion with knowledge that the pregnant woman is seeking the abortion “solely on the basis” of a test indicating Down syndrome or any other reason to believe that the…”
Memphis Ctr. for Reprod. Health v. Herbert Slatery, III (6th Cir. 2021). “§ 41-41-407 (1) (mandating that doctors “first confirm[] that the abortion is not being sought because of” a protected characteristic).”
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