TCA 39-15-217
Section definitions – Unlawful abortions due to sex, race, or indication of Down syndrome – Affirmative defense of medical emergency – Violations – Report to board of medical examiners – Severability – Intent
FELONY CClass C Felony
Sentence enhancement may apply
What does this charge mean?
Performing an abortion based solely on the fetus's sex, race, or Down syndrome diagnosis is illegal unless there is a medical emergency. Violations are Class C felonies punishable by 3-15 years in prison and/or up to $10,000 in fines, and the offense must be reported to the medical licensing board.
Penalty Details
ClassificationClass C Felony
Maximum Jail3-15 years
Maximum Fine$10,000
Penalty SummaryClass C felony; 3-15 years; fine up to $10,000
(a) As used in this section: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.Person: includes the singular and the plural and means and includes any individual, firm, partnership, copartnership, association, corporation, governmental subdivision or agency, or other organization or other legal entity, or any agent or servant thereof. See Tennessee Code 39-11-106Remainder: An interest in property that takes effect in the future at a specified time or after the occurrence of some event, such as the death of a life tenant.Services: includes labor, skill, professional service, transportation, telephone, mail, gas, electricity, steam, water, cable television, entertainment subscription service or other public services, accommodations in hotels, restaurants or elsewhere, admissions to exhibitions, use of vehicles or other movable property, and any other activity or product considered in the ordinary course of business to be a service, regardless of whether it is listed in this subdivision (a)(38) or a specific statute exists covering the same or similar conduct. See Tennessee Code 39-11-106sex: means a person's immutable biological sex as determined by anatomy and genetics existing at the time of birth and evidence of a person's biological sex. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105(1) “Abortion” has the same meaning as defined in § 39-15-211; (2) “Down syndrome” means a chromosome disorder associated either with an extra chromosome twenty-one or an effective trisomy for chromosome twenty-one; (3) “Medical emergency” has the same meaning as defined in § 39-15-211; provided, that it does not include a claim or diagnosis related to the woman’s mental health or a claim or diagnosis that the woman will engage in conduct which would result in her death or substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function; and (4) “Unborn child” has the same meaning as defined in § 39-15-211. (b) A person shall not perform or induce, or attempt to perform or induce, an abortion upon a pregnant woman if the person knows that the woman is seeking the abortion because of the sex of the unborn child. (c) A person shall not perform or induce, or attempt to perform or induce, an abortion upon a pregnant woman if the person knows that the woman is seeking the abortion because of the race of the unborn child. (d) A person shall not perform or induce, or attempt to perform or induce, an abortion upon a pregnant woman if the person knows that the woman is seeking the abortion because of a prenatal diagnosis, test, or screening indicating Down syndrome or the potential for Down syndrome in the unborn child. (e) (1) Subject to compliance with subdivision (e)(2), it is an affirmative defense to criminal prosecution for a violation of a provision of this section that, in the physician’s reasonable medical judgment, a medical emergency prevented compliance with the provision. (2) In order for the affirmative defense in subdivision (e)(1) to apply, a physician who performs or induces, or attempts to perform or induce, an abortion because of a medical emergency must comply with each of the following conditions unless the medical emergency also prevents compliance with the condition: (A) The physician who performs or induces, or attempts to perform or induce, the abortion certifies in writing that, in the physician’s good faith, reasonable medical judgment, based upon the facts known to the physician at the time, compliance with the provision was prevented by a medical emergency; (B) The physician certifies in writing the available methods or techniques considered and the reasons for choosing the method or technique employed; (C) If the unborn child is presumed to be viable under § 39-15-211 or determined to be viable under § 39-15-212, the physician performs or induces, or attempts to perform or induce, the abortion in a hospital. The hospital must have appropriate neonatal services for premature infants unless there is no hospital within thirty (30) miles with neonatal services and the physician who intends to perform or induce the abortion has admitting privileges at the hospital where the abortion is to be performed or induced; (D) If the unborn child is presumed viable under § 39-15-211 or determined to be viable under § 39-15-212, the physician who performs or induces, or attempts to perform or induce, the abortion terminates or attempts to terminate the pregnancy in the manner that provides the best opportunity for the unborn child to survive, unless that physician determines, in the physician’s good faith medical judgment, based upon the facts known to the physician at the time, that t
View on official sourceLast verified: Feb 25, 2026
Quick Facts
FELONY C
TCA Section39-15-217
Max Jail3-15 years
Max Fine$10,000