Bill 56: Harvey's Law

This bill primarily affects regulated health professionals in Nova Scotia — including physicians, genetic counsellors, midwives, and nurses — who deliver prenatal diagnoses. A typical impacted practitioner would be an obstetrician, family doctor, or midwife working in a clinic or hospital setting who conducts or follows up on prenatal screening. Starting March 21, 2026, any such professional communicating a Down syndrome diagnosis must have the government-approved written materials on hand and provide them directly to the expectant parent(s) at that appointment. The administrative burden is relatively light for individual practitioners, as the Minister is responsible for producing the materials, but clinics and practices will need to ensure staff are aware of the requirement and that current materials are accessible at point of care.