Question 382: Do NRC regulations allow a declared pregnant
woman to "undeclare" her pregnancy? If so, does this
withdrawal of a previous declaration of pregnancy also
oblige the licensee to withdraw restrictive measures and
enhanced monitoring established solely to comply with
related embryo / fetus dose limits?
Answer: Yes, to both questions. Under the regulations
(which are consistent with the Supreme Court decision in
the case of UAW vs. Johnson Controls), a woman has the
right to choose whether or not to declare her pregnancy,
including the right to revoke her declaration. It is the
woman's right to choose, not the declaration of pregnancy,
that is irrevocable. Note: A woman's withdrawal of her
declaration of pregnancy does not alter the requirement of
10 CFR 20.2106 (e) that the licensee (continue to) maintain
the records of dose to the embryo / fetus (that were prepared
as a result of the woman's declaration of pregnancy). See
Regulatory Guide 8.7, Rev. 1, Section 2.3, concerning
reporting of the embryo / fetus dose on request of the
monitored woman. (Reference: 10 CFR 20.1208).